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Rolling element bearing components and failing

frequencies | Power-MI

Aug 21, 2023 3:35 PM

https://power-mi.com/content/rolling-element-bearing-components-and-
failing-frequencies
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Rolling element bearings

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Rolling element bearing

components and failing
frequencies
By Alfonso Fernandez

Introduction to maintenance

Vibration analysis fundamentals

Vibration sensors and measurement devices

Vibration standards

Imbalance and phase measurement

Low frequency fault diagnosis

Plain bearings

Gears

Rolling element bearings

Rolling element bearing failure detection techniques

 Rolling element bearing components and failing frequencies

Prediction of the bearing damage severity level

Typical bearing defects and spectral identification

Deterioration stages

Demodulation or envelope analysis

AC induction motors

Resonance

Rolling element bearings consist of several clearly differentiated components: inner

race, balls or rollers, cage and outer race.

Figure 9.1: Rolling element bearing components

The deterioration of each of these elements will generate one or more characteristic
failing frequencies in the frequency spectra that will allow us a quick and easy
identification. The four possible bearing failing frequencies are:

BPFO (Ball Pass Frequency Outer) or outer race failing frequency. Corresponds
physically to the number of balls or rollers that pass through a given point of the
 outer race each time the shaft makes a complete turn.

BPFI (Ball Pass Frequency Inner) or inner race failing frequency. Corresponds
physically to the number of balls or rollers that pass through a given point of the
inner track each time the shaft makes a complete turn.

BSF (Ball Spin Frequency) or rolling element failing frequency. Corresponds

physically to the number of turns that a bearing ball or roller makes each time the
shaft makes a complete turn.

FTF (Fundamental Train Frequency) or cage failing frequency. Corresponds

physically to the number of turns that makes the bearing cage each time the
shaft makes a complete turn.

Formulas for the calculation of the

bearing failing frequencies
Each bearing has its own geometric characteristics from which we can determine its
failing frequencies. These frequencies will appear in the spectral signatures when the
bearing is deteriorated, and the formulas for its calculation are shown in Figure 9.2.
For most bearings these failing frequencies will not be integer numbers, so that the
dominant vibration, when there is a defect in any of the bearing components will be
non-synchronous (not coincident with rotating frequency harmonics).

Figure 9.2: Rolling element bearing failing frequencies

When one of the bearing components is damaged, we will distinguish in the
frequency spectrum the fundamental frequency corresponding to the damaged
element, always accompanied by harmonics. In those cases where the bearing
physical parameters are not known, there are some empirical formulas that will allow
us to determine the failing frequencies of the bearing races and the cage in funtion of
just the number of rolling elements and the rotating speed:

BPFO = 0.4 × NB × RPM

BPFI = 0.6 × NB × RPM

FTF = 0.4 × RPM

Influence of the variation of the

contact angle in the bearing failing
frequencies
Bearing failing frequencies, according to the mathematical formulas expressed
above in Figure 9.2, depend on the contact angle, hence any slight variation of this
will result in a variation of the ideal bearing failing frequencies, making it difficult to
identify these frequencies in the spectrum. The possible causes that can produce a
variation of the contact angle can be very diverse: misalignment, thermal growth,
excessive bolt tightening, pitting or peeling in the bearing races, etc. All this will
influence these precalculated frequencies (ideal frequencies) so that they do not
exactly coincide with the frequencies that appear in the spectrum (actual
frequencies), and therefore in some cases a certain level of margin must be allowed
in the identification of the failing frequencies.

IN THIS PAGE:

Failing frequencies
Calculation of the bearing frequencies
Influence of the contact angle
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