The rigid ferrule hypothesis is usually used in the research on load distribution of ball bearings

but it has a relatively big error for thin-wall bearings which have flexible supported ferrules.The 3D finite element analytical model for thin-wall deep groove ball bearing is established by ANSYS.The effect of ferrule bending deformation under load on the load distribution of the rolling element is considered

and the change law of load distribution and life in different conditions is obtained

the results of finite element method are closed to the experimental values

which provide reference for the further performance analysis and optimization design.