Causes And Solutions Of Bearing Failures

Bearings failure is a critical mechanical issue that can result in costly downtime and repairs. But when you have a full knowledge of the causes and solution of bearing failure, that means you’ll be smart enough to identify and tackle any potential problem that might want to occur.

What Are Bearing Failures?

The word “bearing failure” means when bearings perform below their expected level or when they do not meet their expected service life, thus resulting in the failure of the machine shaft and the parts of the machine having a high tendency of breaking down.

Common Causes And Signs Of Bearing Failure

There are many reasons why bearings failure occur, some of which include:

Improper Lubrication

This is one major cause of bearings failure. Lubrication can cause bearings failure in different aspects, for example using the wrong lubricant, not using enough lubrication, or when the lubrication has degraded due to exposure of the bearings to the temperature.

Corrosion And Contamination

Bearings failure can also be a result of contaminants such as water, dirt, sand, and chemical compounds. These factors can degrade the lubricant or corrode/erode the bearing surface, thus making the bearings fail.

Misalignment

Although some bearings can tolerate misalignment between the shaft and housing up to some extent. However, misalignment can also happen due to contaminated parts, bent shaft, and not properly positioning the shaft and the locking nut. When this happens, there will be uneven load distribution and excessive vibration, which is capable of making the bearings fail.

Fatigue

Also called spalling. This is also called spalling, which means the fractures in the bearing surface and breaking off bearings running surfaces which result in the removal of tiny components and detaches bearing material particles. Fatigue is progressive, once it starts it will spread as the bearing operates.

Brinelling

In the raceway, this can be identified as permanent indentation marks, it increases vibration. It happens when loads supersede the elastic limit of the ring materials. There are two types of brinelling which are; true and false brinelling. The main cause of true brinelling is exposing the bearing to a load that is more than the elastic limits of the bearing material. False brinelling occurs when there’s vibration or swaying between two rolling elements.

Path Patterns

It’s best to pay attention to the wear path pattern of the disassembled that was serviced earlier to have a better understanding of how bearings operate. Through failure analysis, fact-checking and when you understand normal and abnormal wear paths, you’ll be able to know whether or not the bearing has been run in ideal conditions.

Seal Selection And Maintenance

When bearings are not adequately sealed to ensure there’s no room for contamination and destroyed lubrication will also lead to bearing failure.

Inadequate Internal Clearance

This type of bearing failure is influenced by load zone size and the fatigue life of the bearing. There’ll be excessive heat build-up if the clearance of the bearing is inadequate.

Improper Handling And Storage

When you do not store bearing properly, it’ll cause bearing failure. This is because exposing them to elements like harsh temperatures, dust, and dampness will harm the bearings.

Overload

Bearing will fail when you put loads that are more than its capacity on it. The best way you can tackle this type of situation is for you to use a bearing that has a greater capacity.

Poor Fitting

When a bearing is not mounted properly on an accurately sized shaft there’s a possibility it’ll result in too tight of a fit, that’s if the shaft is oversized. The bearing will creep on the shaft, will wear out prematurely, and will generate heat if the shaft is undersized.

Electric Arcing

Another name for electric arcing is electric arc erosion. This often occurs as a result of the electric current passing through the bearing and is broken at the contact surface between races and rolling elements. This will produce high temperatures at localized points, thus leading to bearing failure.

Cage Damage

Cage damage is a cause of bearing failure that is usually caused by vibration, excessive speed, wear, blockage, and other numerous reasons.

How To Prevent Bearing Failure

Preventing bearing failure comes with so many things to take into consideration. Here are some common things to consider:

• Proper Lubrication

You need to take bearing lubrication as a priority for them to function well. When you properly lubricate the bearing it will reduce wear and tear, prevent overheating, and it’ll give extended life. In conclusion, it’s important you consider using the proper and recommended lubricant for your bearing.

• Regular Maintenance

You need to be consistent in maintaining your bearings for them to function well and have a long lifespan. This is because when you are consistent in maintaining your bearing, you can easily and quickly identify any issue that might want to arise before time. The process of maintenance could be checking the pureness and the lubrication level, inspecting signs of wear, and accurate alignment.

• Correct Bearing Selection

Another way to prevent bearing failure is to select the actual bearing for your kind of application for longevity and smooth operation of your bearings. Some factors you should consider are temperature requirement, speed, and load capacity. It’s always recommended to seek a recommendation from an expert supplier in this case.

• Proper Handling And Installation

This is important to prevent the bearing from premature failure. In addition, making sure that the bearings are stored in a clean, vibration-free, and dry environment is also crucial to prevent the bearings from premature failure. Lastly, when you are installing the bearings be ascertained that it fits properly, and torque is properly applied.

• Training And Education

This can also help you prevent bearing failure because when you have a trained team on proper handling and installation strategy, maintenance, correct bearing selection, and lubrication it’ll help them know the best practice on each occasion, and it’ll reduce downtime.

• Balanced Equipment

Always inspect your bearings to identify potential imbalances in them. If there’s an imbalance in your machinery the bearings have a chance of experiencing more loads and shorter lifespan.

FAQs

What Happens When A Bearing Fails?

When a bearing fails the friction will increase and it’ll generate excessive heat and noise. When this occurs, the bearing will not last up to the expected lifespan and it will give minimal performance.

Conclusion

Identifying the causes of bearing failure is important for you to have a smooth bearing experience. When you take into consideration all the key factors in this article, it’ll help you reduce the chance of experiencing premature bearing failure and it’ll give you optimal performance.