Analysis of the Behaviour of Rolling Bearings in Contaminated Oil Using Some Condition Monitoring Techniques

Abstract

Friction and wear behaviours of rolling bearing in contaminated oil containing white-fused alumina particles were studied. The friction and wear processes were monitored using wear debris analysis, such as ferrography and spectrometric oil analysis program, and vibration analysis. Test bearing was a deep groove ball bearing (6002P5); Wear debris and worn surfaces of the bearing components were observed with a scanning electron microscope (SEM). It was found that the friction coefficient in the contaminated oil became lower by about 0.001 than that in the new oil for the large contaminants. The results of wear debris analysis showed that the large contaminants caused the high wear rate in the bearing. Three types of wear debris were commonly observed: thread-like debris, cutting chip debris, and plate-like debris. On the basis of the SEM observation results of the worn surfaces, wear mechanisms of these wear debris were discussed. The results of vibration analysis showed that the probability density function of vibration waveform was normal distribution in both the new and contaminated oils. In the contaminated oil, it changed depending on the contaminant size and the runtime, i.e. the progress of wear in the bearing. The result of wear debris analysis was related to that of vibration analysis and discussed.