Machinery failures can pose a significant challenge for industrial operations on costs and operational disruptions.

For professionals and enthusiasts in the field of machinery and bearings, identifying the root cause of a bearing failure is paramount. When confronted with an apparent dent on your bearing, it becomes crucial to determine whether it resulted from a blunt force impact or another underlying mechanism. This knowledge is vital for taking practical corrective actions that resolve the issue at hand and prevent its recurrence. In this blog, we will delve into the complex realm of bearing damage, presenting insights and explanations designed for experts and enthusiasts looking to understand better the many forms of dents and markings that may plague these crucial components.

Visual Clues

A more detailed inspection of a damaged bearing can often provide valuable insights into the nature of its sustained damage. To illustrate this point, let's delve into an example. Consider a scenario where you are examining a bearing and notice signs of blunt force impacting both the bearing ring and raceways. In such cases, the evidence is unmistakable – clear hammer marks on the ring's side face state a mechanical impact. The solution to addressing this type of damage is straightforward: remove the source of the impact, which is the tool or object causing these marks.

But, it's essential to recognize that not all instances of bearing damage are as clear as the hammer marks we discussed. Sometimes, you may come across dents on the raceway that takes on a distinct triangular shape, resulting from a different yet related mechanism. To understand this type of damage, you'd need to use low-power magnification, within the range of 3x to 5x. Under such magnification, you can observe the manufacturer's grinding and honing marks within and outside the dented area. These marks signify permanent plastic deformation, and this type of damage is often referred to as "true brinelling." While the root cause of this damage may be like that of blunt force impact, the appearance of the dent is different, making it a distinct form of damage to consider.

Root Causes of Bearing Damage

True brinelling, characterized by triangular marks on the bearing raceway, results from a specific type of damage. This damage often occurs when a bearing experiences a heavy load or shock. It is essential to recognize the signs of true brinelling, as the corrective measures for this type of damage might differ from those needed for other bearing issues.

External causes such as high loads, shocks, or mechanical accidents are the primary causes. In this case, solving the issue might involve addressing the external sources of damage, like improving machinery maintenance and handling practices or increasing the bearing's load-carrying capacity.

False Brinelling

If you observe wear, rust, and lack of hone marks at the bottom of these triangular dents, you might be dealing with a different type of damage - false brinelling. This type of wear process occurs in stationary machines subject to vibration.

False brinelling presents different challenges and requires a distinct approach to solving the issue. This type of damage is often characterized by indentations in the raceway that correspond to the spacing of the rollers. Understanding that this "dent" is not generated by collision but rather by the ongoing wear and tear induced by external vibration is critical. False brinelling is particularly common in machinery operating in environments where vibrations are prevalent.

Addressing false brinelling can be a more complex process. It is crucial to identify and cut the root cause, often the external vibration, to combat this type of damage. This might involve implementing vibration reduction strategies, such as isolating the machinery from vibration sources, improving bearing lubrication, or enhancing the bearing design to withstand the challenges of the environment.

Understanding the different origins of bearing damage, whether true brinelling resulting from a mechanical impact or false brinelling caused by external vibration, is crucial for developing and implementing corrective actions. The key goal is to prevent the recurrence of bearing failures, as they can lead to costly downtime and maintenance expenses.

Cultivating Resilience Against Bearing Damage

Bearing damage is not always what it appears to be at first glance. A simple dent may have a complex backstory, with factors like mechanical impacts or external vibrations playing a significant role. Understanding the intricacies of these damages is crucial for long-term machinery reliability and performance, allowing industries to avert costly disruptions and keep operations running.

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Source:

SKF. (n.d.). Bearing damage: When is a dent not a dent?. Reliable Plant. https://www.reliableplant.com/Read/26268/Bearing-damage-not-a-dent