Rolling Bearing Damage from Particle Contamination – Diagnosis via Inspection

Indentations in rolling bearings from particle contamination introduce surface damage because they disturb lubrication and produce stress concentrations. In this article, a methodology is proposed where non-failed bearings that have been running in the field are inspected, indentations are counted and their geometry is characterized. With this information and the use of a mathematical model previously developed, the inferred damage in the bearing can be estimated and with this also the actual contamination parameter, ηc as described in the ISO 281 standard. In this way giving more certainty on the real contamination conditions in the application than other indirect assessment methods.