Acoustic emission techniques have been used to monitor pitting fatigue processes during four-ball testing. Results are presented that arose from a coll aborative programme between the Naval Research Laboratory (Washington DC) and the University of Wales Swansea, sponsored by the US Office of Naval Research. The ultimate aim of the resea rch is to develop a systematic fusion technology approach to condition-based maintenance of wear-related surface distress of critical components in naval air and surface combatant engine and transmission systems. The principal monitoring techniques utilised i n the investigation comprise acoustic emission, vibration analysis and wear debris analysis. A custom data acquisition and processing system was developed to allow real-time graphing of AE signal frequency content. Post-test autopsy, involving optical a nd electron microscopy inspection of sectioned test balls is used to relate evidence of dis tress to actual modes of failure that are subsequently signalled by the changes that take place in th e morphology of the associated wear debris. The future intentions in practice involve detection and diagnosis of signal s related to the incidence of sub-surface cracks occurring prior to surface distre ss. This information can then be used in conjunction with other monitoring techniques and reliability data to predict the remaining useful life of rolling element components and thus determi ne when to terminate operations.
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Price et al. (2003) studied this question.