Section Seven

Anti-friction
Bearings

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 7-1
Antifriction Bearings

• Objectives
– Calculate rolling element bearing defect
frequencies
– Recognize defect frequencies
– Use Time Waveform data
– Determine the severity of defects from
patterns not just amplitude.

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 7-1
Antifriction Bearings
• Rolling element bearings have specific bearing failure modes
that can be observed in the spectral and the waveform data.
• Bearing frequencies are different than some other vibration
frequencies present in a frequency spectrum in that bearing
frequencies are truly defect frequencies.
• These frequencies will not appear unless the bearings are
actually defective.
• Each failure mode centers around a particular defect site and
consists of defect frequencies that appear because of defects in
the bearing components.

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 7-1
Antifriction Bearings
Ball Pass Frequency
Outter Race (BPFO)

Ball Pass Frequency

Inner Race (BPFI)

Fundamental Train
Frequency (FTF)

Ball Spin Frequency

(BSF)

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 7-2
Antifriction Bearings
• The four primary rolling element defect
frequencies are classified by their location.
– FTF ( Fundamental Train Frequency ) or Cage
Frequency
– BSF ( Ball Spin Frequency )
– BPFO ( Ball Pass Frequency Outer Race )
– BPFI ( Ball Pass Frequency Inner Race )

Note: The BPFI will always be the highest calculated frequency

for rolling element bearings.

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 Antifriction Bearings
Inner

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 Antifriction Bearings
Outer

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 Antifriction Bearings
Roller

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 7-3
Antifriction Bearings

• Displayed on the following slide is a

page from the CSI bearing file.
– The BPFI is the highest calculated bearing
frequency for each bearing.
– A rule to apply when selecting an Fmax on
machines with rolling element bearings is:

• BPFI x # of balls/rollers = Fmax

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 7-3
Antifriction Bearings

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 7-4
Antifriction Bearings
Calculation of Fundamental Rolling Element Bearing Defect
Frequencies
Case I Inner race is rotating and outer race is stationary (most common
industrial application).

S
FTF =  ( 1 - Bd  cos )
2 Pd

Bd
BPFI = Nb  S  ( 1 +  cos )
2 Pd

Bd
BPFO = Nb  S  ( 1 -  cos )
2 Pd

BSF = Pd  S  [ 1 - ( Bd ) (cos ) ]

2Bd Pd

where:

RPM = revolutions per minute

S = speed, revolutions per second
FTF = fundamental train (cage) frequency
BPFI = ball pass frequency of the inner race
BPFO = ball pass frequency of the outer race
BSF = ball spin frequency
Bd = ball or roller diameter
Nb = number of balls or rollers
Pd = pitch diameter
Θ = contact angle

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 7-5
Antifriction Bearings
Case II Inner race is stationary and outer race is rotating (e.g., front wheels
of some cars).

S
FTF =  ( 1 + Bd  cos )
2 Pd

Bd
BPFI = Nb  S  ( 1 +  cos )
2 Pd

Bd
BPFO = Nb  S  ( 1 -  cos )
2 Pd

BSF = Pd  S  [ 1 + ( Bd ) (cos ) ]

2Bd Pd
where:

RPM = revolutions per minute

S = speed, revolutions per second
FTF = fundamental train (cage) frequency
BPFI = ball pass frequency of the inner race
BPFO = ball pass frequency of the outer race
BSF = ball spin frequency
Bd = ball or roller diameter
Nb = number of balls or rollers
Pd = pitch diameter
Θ = contact angle

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 7-6
Antifriction Bearings
Two other relationships are also important:
• The sum of the BPFO and the BPFI is equal to the number of
rolling elements multiplied by the shaft turning speed.
BPFO + BPFI = # balls  TS
• For the Inner Race rotating, the FTF is equal to the BPFO
divided by the number of rolling elements.
FTF = BPFO / # balls
• For the Outer Race rotating, the FTF is equal to the BPFI
divided by the number of rolling elements.
FTF = BPFI / # balls
The defect frequency amplitudes depend on the defect severity
and the bearing failure mode.

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 7-7
Spectral Data
• Viewing the spectral data can detect these defect
frequencies.
• Not only are the primary defect frequencies of interest
when diagnosing bearing failures, but also the defect
frequency harmonics.
• The maximum analysis frequency (Fmax) during data
collection should be high enough to capture the higher
frequency harmonics.
• An Fmax set at or above a frequency equal to the BPFI
multiplied by the number of rolling elements allows all
the bearing defect frequencies to be captured.
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 7-7
Spectral Data

• It is the detection of the higher frequency

harmonics of the BPFI and the BPFO defect
frequencies that often appear during the first
failure stages of bearing failure. It is the initial
detection of these defect frequencies that
allows an analyst to track the bearing defect.
• Each of the four primary bearing defects can
be considered to be a particular mode of
failure.

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 7-8
Ball Pass Frequency Outer Race

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Ball Pass Frequency Inner Race

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 7-9
Rolling Element Defect (BSF)

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 7-10
Cage Defect
The spectrum shown below shows the cage defect frequency appearing at less
than 1 x turn speed. This is normally where a cage defect appears on a new
bearing with a cage defect.

On a bearing that has been in service for some time a cage defect normally
appears as a sideband about a BPFO or a BPFI defect frequency.

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 7-11
Time Waveform

Classic
Impacting

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 7-13
Bearing Life
The life of the bearing is inversely proportional to the load cubed
and the shaft turning speed based on the following equation:
H = (C3 / L3)  (16667 / RPM)
(277.78 / Hz)
Where,
H = life in hours
C = bearing capacity in pounds
L = bearing load in pounds
RPM = shaft turning speed
Hz = Shaft turning speed in CPS
Slower shaft speeds have the opposite effect on bearing life. The
faults develop over a longer time period at lower amplitudes
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 7-14
Importance of Pattern Recognition
The bearing defect frequency pattern is really the key for each bearing
failure mode. The acceleration amplitude in the time waveform is also a
tool to use for diagnosing bearing severity. Usually time waveform
acceleration levels in excess of 2 G's, peak-to-peak is significant
enough to warrant the analyst’s attention.

Although vibration amplitude is helpful in determining defect severity,

the frequency pattern in the spectral data is often more indicative of
progressive bearing damage than changes in spectral amplitude alone.
The discussion that follows is the classic failure progression that applies
to about 80% of all bearings. However, the basic idea that amplitude
alone cannot always be used to correctly identify bearings ready for
replacement is still true.

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 7-15
Mode 1
D

D = BPFI
(1xBPFI 7.88 Orders)

6 x BPFI
46.28 48.28
5 x BPFI

38.40 40.40 45.28 49.28

1.0 7.88 15.76 23.64 31.52 39.40 47.28 55.16 63.04

Frequency In "Orders"

High frequency multiples will typically appear first with a race defect.

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 7-16
Mode 2
D

D = BPFI
(1xBPFI 7.88 Orders)

1 x RPM

6 x BPFI
5 x BPFI
4 x BPFI
3 x BPFI
2 x BPFI

1.0 7.88 15.76 23.64 31.52 39.40 47.28 55.16 63.04

Frequency In "Orders"

Defect progression includes multiple sidebands

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 7-17
Mode 3
D

D = BPFI
(1xBPFI 7.88 Orders)

1 x RPM

6 x BPFI
5 x BPFI
4 x BPFI
3 x BPFI
2 x BPFI

1.0 7.88 15.76 23.64 31.52 39.40 47.28 55.16 63.04

Frequency In "Orders"

The fundamental defect frequency now appears.

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 7-18
Mode 4
D

D = BPFI
(1xBPFI 7.88 Orders)

1 x RPM

6 x BPFI
5 x BPFI
4 x BPFI
3 x BPFI
2 x BPFI

1.0 7.88 15.76 23.64 31.52 39.40 47.28 55.16 63.04

Frequency In "Orders"

Less than 2 percent of the bearing’s life remains

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 7-19
Lubrication Problems
The defect frequencies appear between 800 and 1200 Hz apart
as shown in the spectrum below.

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 7-19
Summary

Relying on amplitude alone is a difficult way to predict bearing

failure. Often the bearing defect frequencies do not increase in
amplitude as much as the content of the spectrum changes,
including more of the defect frequencies.

Provided data is collected correctly to a suitable maximum

frequency range, observing the failure progression pattern is a
much more reliable method for recommending bearing
replacement than trying to rely on amplitude alone.

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 7-21
Bearing Defect Chart

• Frequency
– 1-8 x BPFI
• Defect
– inner race defect
• Remarks
– amplitude of harmonics often exceeds that
of fundamental frequency; defects
frequently caused by forces from the
rotating element; 1xTS sidebands often
modulate it as bearing degrades.

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 7-21
Bearing Defect Chart

• Frequency
– 1-8 x BPFO
• Defect
– outer race defect
• Remarks
– amplitude of harmonics often exceeds that
of fundamental frequency

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 7-21
Bearing Defect Chart

• Frequency
– 1-N x BSF
• Defect
– ball or roller defects; sometimes result from
a broken cage (N = number of rolling
elements)
• Remarks
– usually accompanied by race defects; the
strongest multiple frequently equals the
number of defective rolling elements

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 7-22
Bearing Defect Chart

• Frequency
– FTF
• Defect
– cage defect
• Remarks
– usually accompanied by other defective
components; may appear as a difference
frequency

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 7-22
Bearing Defect Chart

• Frequency
– 1xTS modulation (sidebands) or significant
broadband energy
• Defect
– advance defects resulting in alterations of
bearing geometry
• Remarks
– energy centers around initiating defect
frequency, although this frequency may
disappear in advanced degradation

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 7-22
Bearing Defect Chart

• Frequency
– sum and difference frequencies
(sidebands) involving RPM, BPFI, BPFO,
BSF, FTF
• Defect
– multiple defective parts
• Remarks
– extensive damage

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 7-24
Bearing Defect Chart

• Frequency
– 1-6xTS
• Defect
– (1) excessive internal clearances
• Remarks
– excessive clearances normally
accompanied by FTF modulating other
frequencies; can also significantly affect
balance sensitivity

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 7-24
Bearing Defect Chart

• Defect
– (2) bearing turning on shaft
• Remarks
– frequently 3xTS or greater is the
predominant multiple
• Defect
– (3) bearing loose in housing
• Remarks
• shows strong 1xTS and 4xTS

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 7-24
Bearing Defect Chart

• Defect
– (4) misaligned bearing
• Remarks
– generated frequency equals number of
rolling elements x TS

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 7-24
Bearing Defect Chart

• Frequency
– 800-1600 Hz region with 3-4 peaks separated by
80-130Hz
• Defect
– inadequate lubrication
• Remarks
– amplitudes may grow to 0.1-0.2 IPS; may result
from excitement of installed natural frequencies;
can also be caused by pre-loading or heavy
thrust load if lubrication does not correct

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 7-27
AFBMA Bearing Conversion
50 BC 03 = SKF 6310
50 BC 03
1. 2. 3.
1. Shaft Dia. In “Millimeters”
50 divided by 5 = 10 millimeters
note: always divide by 5
2. BC = Ball Conrad Bearings = Single row deep groove
ball bearings 6000 Series
3. 03 = bearing duty 00, 01, 02, 03, 04 higher the
number, the heavier the duty of the bearing

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 7-27
AFBMA Bearing Conversion
Bearing Interpretation
50 BC 03 = 6 3 10
| | |
| | |
(2) (3) (1)
50 mm
1. 50 = shaft dia. in mm ----------- = 10
5
Ball Conrad - single roll deep groove bearing ------ ( 6000 )

03 = bearing duty rating

Note: Most motor bearings are listed on motor tags as

AFBMA or ABMA numbers.

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 7-37
Case History #1
• 250 HP, 1200 RPM motor.
• Center Hung - double suction pump.
• Most of the energy in the axial direction.
MOA, MOV, MOH

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 7-38
Case History #1

First time data, Notice higher frequency peaks.

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 7-39
Case History #1

Low frequency diminishing high frequency increasing.

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Case History #1
Fault freq. Are the Key for Bearing Analysis. Typically, primary
BPFO is not seen until final stages of the bearing defect.

What stage of degradation is this bearing in ? 3rd Stage

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 7-41
Case History #1
Typical pattern of impacting and ringing down.

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 7-42
Case History #2
• 250 HP, 3600 RPM motor.
• Reading taken for certification.
• Spectral data shows a new problem.

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Case History #2

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Case History #2

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 7-44
Case History #2
Bearing ID not known but notice Familys of Peaks

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Case History #2
Significant impacting ± 60 g’s, The bearing failed in less than
24 hours.

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Case History #4
• 200 HP, 1200 RPM motor.
• Overhung fan - direct driven.
M2H,M2V,M2A

Direct Driven Overhung Fan

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 7-56
Case History #4

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Case History #4

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 7-58
Case History #4

Increase in amplitude
of harmonics peaks as
frequency increases

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 7-59
Case History #4
The waveform shows impacting and ringing down, Structural
looseness shows random impacting.

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 7-60
Case History #4
Data from after bearing was replaced, Overall energy dropped
from 0.2279 in\sec. to 0.1043 in\sec.

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Case History #4
Waveform data from after bearing was replaced.

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Case History #7
• 125 HP, 1800 RPM motor.
• Center hung pump.

P1H, P1V, P1A

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Case History #7

Notice mounds of energy between 800 and 1200 Hz.

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Case History #7

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 7-74
Case History #7
Typical spacing for lubrication problems is 80 - 130 Hz, Here we
have about 93 Hz.

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Case History #7
Waveform shows significant impacting.

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