Analysis of Ball Bearings under Dynamic Loading Using Non- Destructive Technique of Thermography

Abstract

Roller bearing defect is a major factor of failure in rotating machinery that affects proper functioning of system which results in substantial time and economic losses. Therefore, condition monitoring of roller bearing is important and the study of severity of defects are necessarily required in order to avoid catastrophic consequences. Defects monitoring during dynamic loading conditions of rotational machineries with the use of contactless, non-destructive infrared thermographic method is proposed. By using a rotating ball bearing, passive thermographic experiment was performed as an alternative technique to proceed the condition monitoring. Based on the results, the temperature characteristics of the ball bearing under dynamic loading conditions were analyzed thoroughly. Also, a comparison of these results was done for different bearings with characteristic defects. As a result, it was confirmed that infrared thermography method could be adopted to monitor and diagnose the faults by evaluating quantitatively and qualitatively the temperature characteristics according to the condition of the ball bearing.