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Rolling Element Bearing Analysis: by Brian P. Graney and Ken Starry
Rolling Element Bearing Analysis: by Brian P. Graney and Ken Starry
x
From Materials Evaluation, Vol. 70, No. 1, pp: 78–85.
Copyright © 2011 The American Society for Nondestructive Testing, Inc.
detection band (measured as peak g); high frequency events will occur for an inner race fault. The main reason why
(1 to 20 kHz) band (measured in g RMS); general purpose inner race problems are detected less frequently than outer
ultrasonics in the frequency range of 20 to 50 kHz (measured race problems is because transmission of high frequencies
in dB); spectral emitted energy between 250 and 350 kHz generated by lubrication and/or wear is attenuated greatly
(measured in dB); and acoustic emission measurements in through multiple transitions and lubrication boundaries. The
the frequency range of 20 kHz to 1 MHz (measured in dB). poor transmission of vibratory energy results in more severe
wear by the time a problem is detected. Therefore, trending is
Discrete Frequency Indicators limited for inner raceway wear.
Bearing frequencies less than 10 kHz may be present in The rolling elements and cage are typically the last
predictive maintenance (PdM) route data (velocity components to fail though roller spin frequencies, and are
spectrum). Typically, route data is collected with a high pass often observed in non-ball bearing configurations.
filter of 2 Hz, a low pass filter of 1 to 2 kHz, and standard The indications associated with the four stages of bearing
sampling (to prevent aliasing). Such data collection tech- wear are general and may not be all-inclusive for each bearing
niques will pick up bearing wear later in their deterioration wear event. The stages are provided as follows as a point of
cycle, but not in their initial progression. reference used in the evaluation of bearing severity for an
Alternate signal processing techniques are needed in order estimate of wear in lieu of disassembly and inspection
to observe bearing frequencies early in their wear cycle. (Woodward, 1995).
Discrete frequency indicators use a high pass filter of at least
500 Hz with a high rate of sampling and high-frequency low Stage 1
pass filters to obtain the short time durations of shock meas- HFNBRI is excited with possible fault frequencies
urements. Many of these measurements utilize full wave recti- (harmonics) in the second bearing band. Since BPFO is easily
fication of the time waveform, then process an FFT for detectable, a discrete frequency indicator should be used to
analysis. This will help give a root cause as to what the initial identify the fault problem progression.
bearing problem may be. When bearings are in Stage 1 of deterioration, the typical
Similar to HFNBRIs, the same companies and others recommendation is to continue to monitor for deterioration
developed additional proprietary measurements which at the normal monitoring interval. The risk assessment for
provide discrete frequency indicators (that is, spectral data) catastrophic failure is low, and the assigned risk indicator
for detection of sonic and/or ultrasonic frequencies, (ARI) is typically less than two.
including: spike energy; shock pulse; spectral emitted energy;
cepstral analysis (measured in g dB); and bearing demodula- Stage 2
tion (measured in g). When bearing wear progresses to Stage 2, the damage to the
If using a sonic HFNBRI and discrete frequency indicator, raceways and/or rollers grows from having microscopic size to
special care should be taken with magnetically mounted being visible to the naked eye. Stage 2 wear will result in a higher
accelerometers for route based PdM programs, as their level HFNBRI amplitude. Stage 2 wear will also be accompanied
frequency response ranges will be limited due to the change in by rising quantity and amplitude of fault frequency harmonics.
stiffness (K) and added mass (M) (Robinson, 2009). The fundamental outer race fault frequency (BPFO) may
appear in the first bearing band. Also, harmonics of the funda-
Four Stages of Bearing Wear mental inner race fault frequency (BPFI) may be seen in the
The most common configuration for rotating machinery is second bearing band. The discrete frequency indicator should
horizontally mounted (that is, axis of rotation perpendicular have increasing amplitudes, and multiple bearing fault frequen-
to gravity) with a rotating inner race. Given such a configura- cies should be present. Harmonics of bearing fault frequencies
tion, certain factors lead to a higher or lower probability for may be present in a velocity spectrum. Side banding around fault
wear of the various bearing components. frequencies may occur in the second bearing band if modulation
The outer raceway has the highest probability for wear of time-waveform is present.
and is usually the first discrete bearing frequency detected. When bearings are in Stage 2 of deterioration, the typical
The outer race is stationary with a stationary load zone. recommendation is to continue with scheduled repairs at the
Transmission of high frequencies generated by lubrication next normal preventative maintenance interval. The risk
and/or wear is very high for outer race frequencies. The load assessment for catastrophic failure is moderate (ARI is typi-
zone is relatively small with respect to the pitch diameter. The cally two to three).
progression of wear allows for trending.
The inner raceway experiences wear at a faster rate than Stage 3
the outer raceway. The fundamental bearing frequency for an When bearing wear progresses to Stage 3, the damage to the
inner race is greater than that of an outer race, meaning that raceways and/or rollers grows substantially in all dimensions,
for one revolution of the shaft, more damage producing as well as in multiple locations. Stage 3 wear will result in even
TABLE 1
Assigning a bearing wear stage for high-frequency natural bearing resonance indicator (HFNBRI) amplitude versus revolutions per minute
(RPM)
HFNBRI
RPM High frequency band High-frequency detection Spike energy Shock pulse
(g’s root-mean-square) (g’s peak) (g’s spike energy) (dB shock value)
50 0.225/0.45/0.90/1.8 0.21/0.42/0.84/1.7 0.075/0.15/0.3/0.6 16/22/28/34
100 0.335/0.67/1.34/2.7 0.32/0.64/1.3/2.6 0.115/0.23/0.46/0.92 21/27/33/39
300 0.45/0.9/1.8/3.6 0.425/0.85/1.7/3.4 0.15/0.3/0.6/1.2 27/33/39/45
500 0.5/1.0/2.0/4.0 0.475/0.95/1.89/3.8 0.17/0.34/0.68/1.36 32/38/44/50
600 0.95/1.9/3.8/7.6 0.9/1.8/3.7/7.4 0.325/0.65/1.3/2.6 34/40/46/52
900 1.1/2.2/4.4/8.8 1.05/2.1/4.2/8.4 0.375/0.75/1.5/3.0 36/42/48/54
1200 1.3/2.6/5.2/10.4 1.2/2.4/4.8/9.6 0.44/0.87/1.7/3.4 39/45/51/57
1800 1.5/3.0/6.0/12.0 1.4/2.8/5.6/11.2 0.5/1.0/2.0/4.0 42/48/54/60
3600 1.75/3.5/7.0/14.0 1.6/3.2/6.5/13.0 0.6/1.2/2.4/4.8 50/56/62/68
7200 3.0/6.0/12.0/24.0 2.8/5.6/11.3/22.6 1.0/2.0/4.0/8.0 52/58/64/70
*Four stages of bearing wear 1/2/3/4
TABLE 2
Bearing wear stage for single highest bearing fault frequency harmonic amplitude (mm/s peak) versus shaft rotational speed
Revolutions Raceway wear (outer race or inner race)
per minute Stage 1 Stage 2 Stage 3 Stage 4
50 0.254 0.508 1.016 2.032
100 0.381 0.762 1.524 3.048
200 0.508 1.016 2.032 4.064
300 0.572 1.143 2.286 4.572
450 0.635 1.270 2.540 5.080
600 0.762 1.524 3.048 6.096
900 0.826 1.651 3.429 6.858
1200 0.889 1.778 3.556 7.112
1800 1.016 2.032 4.064 8.128
3600 1.270 2.540 5.080 10.160
4000 1.524 3.048 6.096 12.192
TABLE 3
Bearing wear stage for maximum time-waveform peak-to-peak magnitude versus shaft rotational speed
Revolutions Time waveform (g’s peak-to-peak)
per minute Stage 1 Stage 2 Stage 3 Stage 4
50 0.16 0.32 0.64 1.28
100 0.26 0.52 1.02 2.04
200 0.50 1.00 2.00 4.00
300 0.75 1.50 3.00 6.00
450 0.88 1.75 3.50 7.00
600 1.00 2.00 4.00 8.00
900 1.70 3.40 6.90 13.60
1200 2.40 4.80 9.60 19.20
1800 4.10 8.20 16.40 32.80
3600 10.20 20.40 40.80 81.60
7200 20.00 40.00 80.00 160.00
upon the vendor specific method of measurement. Next, one Excessive vibration also contributes to the dynamic load
should select an appropriate shaft RPM. Finally, one needs to the machine experiences during operation. Vibration
compare the measured HFNBRI value versus the values increases the load with the following equation:
shown for Stages 1–4.
3
Assigning an approximate bearing wear stage can be C 16667
(3) H= ×
accomplished with evaluation of the single largest bearing L + 4.14016 × 10–6 MVF RPM
spectral fault frequency harmonic (velocity), and comparison
to the values assigned in Table 2 (Woodward, 1995). First, *note: the exponential value of 3 is used for ball bearings; a value of
it is necessary to select an appropriate shaft RPM, and then 10/3 is used for all other roller bearings.
compare the value of the single largest bearing fault where
frequency harmonic versus the values shown for H = hours,
Stages 1–4. C = rated capacity (kN),
Assigning an approximate bearing wear stage can be L = dynamic load (kN),
accomplished with evaluation of the maximum peak-to-peak RPM = machine speed (revolutions per minute),
value in the acceleration time-waveform, and comparison to M = mass (kg),
the values assigned in Table 3. As before, one needs to select V = velocity (mm/s),
an appropriate shaft RPM and then compare the value of F = frequency (Hz).
peak-to-peak time-waveform versus the values shown for
Stages 1–4. Machines with imbalance or misalignment will have
The highest wear stage determined will be designated as increased loads, thus reducing the life of the bearing
the bearing indicator, when calculating a final ARI. (Graney, 2008). Dynamic load calculations should use
80–90% of overall vibration velocity alarm for turning speed
Dynamic Force Versus Bearing Life vibration and 50–60% of overall vibration velocity alarm for
As previously mentioned, increasing either speed or load two to three times turning speed vibration. ISO 10816-1:1995
decreases bearing life. The following equation calculates the provides guidelines for overall vibration levels (ISO, 1995).
bearing life in operating hours: Review of Equation 3 for bearing life shows that bearing
lifetime is proportional to L–3 and is also proportional to the
3
C 16667 reciprocal of speed, RPM–1. Therefore, it is possible to
(2) H= ×
L RPM evaluate the risk of failure with respect to increased speed
and/or load. Doubling only load will reduce the expected life
*note: the exponential value of 3 is used for ball bearings; a value of to 12.5%, whereas doubling only speed reduces the expected
10/3 is used for all other roller bearings. life to 50%. Increasing the speed above the original design is
normally accomplished with an engineering process change.
where Load may be increased above the original design in the same
H = hours, manner. However, the dynamic load may increase due to
C = rated capacity (kN), excess vibration (inertia loading). Velocity vibration ampli-
L = dynamic load (kN), tude is used to assign a dynamic force indicator, which will be
RPM = machine speed (revolutions per minute). used to calculate a risk assessment value.
Acceleration (g)
HFNBRI, discrete frequency indicators, time-waveform 5
characteristics, velocity spectrum and crest factor are then 0 Peak alarm
evaluated to obtain the worst case stage of bearing wear. A –5 Peak alarm
bearing indicator, B, which corresponds to the stage of wear, –10
is then assigned (Graney, 1998). –15
The ARI can then be calculated. –20 Crest factor
–25
(4) ARI = DFI 2 + B2 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
(b) Revolutions
Using the worst-case bearing wear stage for bearing indi- Review of the time waveform data in Figure 3 shows an
cator (Equation 4), ARI = 4.123. An ARI of 4.123 is consid- amplitude of time-waveform of 1185.8 m/s2 (121 g) peak to
ered a very high risk of catastrophic failure. The appropriate peak. Using Table 3 for a 3600 RPM shaft speed, the time
recommendation should be to replace bearings immediately waveform value is greater than the value for Stage 4, indi-
(as can be scheduled). cating bearing wear Stage 4.
280.24
117.14
4.0
560.37
3.5
58.63
17.78
23.54
BPFI
3.0
BPFI
BPFI
BPFI
BPFI
BPFI
BPFI
BPFI
BPFI
BPFI
BPFI
Peak velocity (mm/s)
15.24
38.52
2.5
128.83
12.70
20.31 2.0 FTF BPFO
10.16
11231.4
1.5
7.62
1.0
5.08
0.5
2.54 0
0 0 333.3 666.7 1000
0 666.7 1333.3 2000 2666.7 3333.3 (a) Frequency (Hz)
(a) Frequency (Hz)
60
Amplitude (mixed units)
20
7.62 21–50 × RPM
0 Peak alarm mm/s
Peak alarm
–20
17.78 5–20 × RPM
–40 mm/s
Crest factor
–60 400 600 800 1000 1200 1400
–80 (b) Days
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
(b) Revolutions Figure 4. Example 2, information collected from a boiler feed water
pump showing: (a) the high-frequency natural bearing resonance
Figure 3. Example 2, information collected from a boiler feed water indicator; (b) discrete frequency indicator and trends. Fundamental
pump showing: (a) spectrum; (b) time-waveform. Ball pass frequency train frequency (FTF), ball pass frequency outer race (BPFO) and ball
inner race is indicated as BPFI. pass frequency inner race (BPFI) are indicated.