On-board condition monitoring of rail axle bearings using vibration data

Abstract

Premature failure of rail axle bearings generates a significant increase in train operating costs and can also affect train safety. In order to solve this problem a commercial on-board condition monitoring system has been fitted on numerous passenger trains, providing the operator with real-time information on bearing health. This new technology detects bearing damage effectively and promptly. The project of which this paper is a part aims to determine a relationship between vibrations and bearing damage. Filtering tools have been developed to parameterise extra vibrations due to bearing damage, and to compare vibrations produced by different bearings. Bearings, which failed in-service, have been analysed with surface profilometry, to quantify the damage. This paper highlights a requirement for a better understanding of the damage mechanisms involved in bearing failure and a more detailed characterization of the damage.