ABSTRACT
The present work focuses on the condition monitoring techniques/methods used for the rolling element bearings to predict the
fault and its propagation sothat early bearing failure can be monitored. Because if the propagating failure is not monitored
then it can lead to the ruinous failure to the entire system, which can further lead to costs of unplanned repair and loss of
production. Several methods such as acoustic emission, vibration analysis, optical interferometry etc. have been compared and
relative analysis is done.
Keywords: Rolling Element Bearings, prospect, lubricant film thickness, EHD, online condition monitoring
techniques, remaining useful life.
1. INTRODUCTION
A rolling element bearing is a machine part whose function is to support a moving (rolling) element and to guide its
motion, while preventing motion in the direction of applied load. Rolling element bearings being one of the most
essential component of rotating machinery of any industry. And a machines performance could be seriously hampered
if during operation defects occurs in bearings. Hence early detection of the defects, therefore, is crucial for the
prevention of damage and a total failure of the associated large system. Over the last decades, condition based
maintenance by different methods and techniques have been used for detection and diagnosis of bearing failures and
estimating the remaining useful life of the bearings. Since the ball or roller surfaces is separated from the raceways of
the bearing by elastohydrodynamic (EHD) film thickness directly affects the bearing life and its estimation can help
predicting the useful remaining bearing life. Most often a frequent classic question is being asked by the maintenance
managers that when the bearing is going to fail, to the condition monitoring technicians. And this is one of the most
difficult question addressed in condition monitoring. And to gain the higher level of confidence needed, one has to use
more sophisticated diagnostic and signal processing techniques and being relatively expensive to apply, are normally
only used where the risk justifies it.
In context of engineering field, fault diagnosis has been approached via a variety of techniques which ranges from
Bayesian estimation and other probalistic/statistical methods to artificial intelligence tools and methodologies based on
notions from the computational intelligence arena.
Fig. no. 02 below, summarizes the range of possible diagnosis approaches as a function of the applicability to various
systems and their relative implementation cost.
Some of the condition monitoring techniques have been compared on the basis of pros and cons, in table no. 01 below:
it was found that the temperature profile across the oil film varies abruptly along the sliding direction. The lubricant
film thickness distribution varies with the slide to roll ratio. And the dimple formation was also sensitive to the slide to
roll ratio. The film thickness increases in the central area under moderate slide to roll ratios. Thus in his work, the
author estimated the lubricant film thickness by white light optical interferometry at various slide to roll ratios. From
pure rolling to an absolute value of the slide to roll ratio of 135% the film thicknes increases. Beyond 135% the thicker
feature moves from the central part of the contact towards the inlet zone while at the exit zone a thinner area expands.
References
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AUTHOR
Sheetal Gajjalwar received the B.E. degree in Mechanical Engineering from Govt. Engg.College,
Raipur (C.G.) India, in 2001 and M.Tech (Hons.) in Design of Process Machines from M.N.N.I.T.,
Allahabad (U.P.). India, in 2003. He is a lifetime member of ISTE. He is pursuing Ph. D. from N.I.T.,
Raipur (C.G.).