Acoustic emission diagnostics of roller bearings damage

Abstract

This paper shows potential applications of the AE method for identification of damage at early stages in rolling bearings. The experimental part is concerned with the results of AE application during durability testing of axial and radial bearings. The recent group of experiments was carried out on durability test stations for radial bearings. Sensing of AE signal on these devices was complicated by the position of the tested bearing inside the station, making it to place the AE sensors in its direct vicinity. As a solution, waveguides were used, with one end touching the outer ring of the bearing and the other end connected to the sensor. Other sensors were placed on the surface of the testing station. Despite these complications with AE signal sensing, an optimal setting was found for the measuring chain resulting in collection of high-quality data from damaged radial bearings. Examples of basic AE signal records from rolling bearing and potentials of the new generation AE analysers are mentioned. These devices allow for continuous AE signal sensing. The results prove the AE technique enables reliable determination of running-in period, stabilised run and the prediction of the stage where surface damage forms. It is shown that the AE method can be used to predict bearing defects or can be used to complement traditional vibration bearing monitoring. © RILEM 2013.