ISO classification of

bearing damage and

failure modes

The ISO 15243 standard is based primarily on features that are

visible on the rolling elements, raceways and other functional
surfaces
Causes of pre-operational Causes of operational damage Electrical erosion
damage • Material fatigue Excessive voltage
Sparking and localized heating from current
• Incorrect shaft and housing fits • Ineffective lubrication passage in the contact area because of inef-
• Defective bearing seats on shafts and • Ineffective sealing fective insulation
in housings • Vibration (false brinelling)
• Static misalignment • Operational misalignment Current leakage
• Faulty mounting practices The generation of shallow craters from (low)
• Passage of electric current through current passage. They develop over time into
• Passage of electric current through the bearing (current leakage) flutes
the bearing (excessive voltage)
• Transportation, handling and storage Plastic deformation
Overload
Fatigue Permanent deformation caused by static
or shock overloads (true brinelling)
Subsurface initiated fatigue
Spalling of particles as a result of microcracks
below the raceway surface
Indentation from debris
Dents as a result of particles that are
over-rolled in the raceway/rolling element
Surface initiated fatigue contact areas
Distress of the surface. Failure of the rolling
contact metal surface asperities due to
inadequate lubrication Indentation from handling
Bearing surfaces that are dented or gouged
by hard, sharp objects
Wear
Abrasive wear
The result of inadequate lubrication or the Fracture and cracking
ingress of contaminants
Forced fracture
A fracture resulting from a stress concentra-
tion in excess of the material’s tensile strength
Adhesive wear
Material transfer from one surface to another
as a result of frictional heat
Fatigue fracture
A fracture resulting from frequently exceed-
ing the fatigue strength limit of the material
Corrosion
Moisture corrosion
Oxidation of the surfaces in the presence of
Thermal cracking
moisture
Cracks that are generated by high frictional
heating. They usually occur perpendicular
to the direction of the sliding motion.
Fretting corrosion
The oxidation and wear of surface asperities
under oscillating micromovement between
mating surfaces
This poster is provided as a courtesy of:
False brinelling
Shallow depressions in raceway/rolling ele-
ment contact caused by cyclic vibrations on
a non rotating bearing

skf.com
For more information on bearing damage, refer to the chapter “Bearing damage
and their causes” in the SKF bearing maintenance handbook.
® SKF is a registered trademark of the SKF Group.
© SKF Group 2016
The contents of this publication are the copyright of the publisher and may not be reproduced (even extracts) unless prior
written permission is granted. Every care has been taken to ensure the accuracy of the information contained in this
publication but no liability can be accepted for any loss or damage whether direct, indirect or consequential arising out of
the use of the information contained herein.
PUB BU/P4 15840/2 EN · April 2016