Rolling element bearing problem

The vibrations caused by bearings are called bearing tones. All antifriction bearings generate
more or less high levels of lagertoner. The more worn the bearing becomes the higher the
levels of the bearing tones are.

An incorrect bearing generates vibrations not exact multiples of 1xRPM, i.e. asynchronous
vibration components. Except these components bearing faults can also generate a broad
banded noise.

There are four different types of bearing tones:

Fundamental Train Frequency (FTF) = The rotational speed of the train, usually 0.4
multiplied with the rotational speed. FTF seldom appears in vibration spectrums as the train
hardly carry any load.

Ball rotation frequency (BSF) = The balls or rollers rotaional speed. A hole in a ball/roller
causes BSP to appear in the frequency spectrum.

Ball passage frequency, outer race (BPFO) = The rate of which the ball/roller passes a
defect in the outer race. This frequency is estimated as:
the number of rollers x rotational speed x 0.4.

Ball passage frequency, inner race (BPFI) = The rate of which a ball/roller passses a defect
in the inner race. The level of BPFI is often slightly lower than BPFO as the vibration is
generated further away from the transducer. The vibration has to pass through the roller and
the outer rece before it is registrated. BPFI is estimated as
the number of rollers x rotational speed x 0.6.

Source of Exciting Dominating Spectral

Amplitude Comments
vibration frequency direction characteristic
Defect inner ring, Bpfi, multiples Asynchronous
Radial Constant Radial load
small single defect on bpfi peaks

Bpfi, with
Defect inner ring, Asynchronous
multiples and Amplitude Radial load increase
increased single Radial peaks with
side band on 1 modulated level
defect sideband on 1 X
X

Bpfi and
Defect inner ring, two High, broadband noise,
significant Radial Broadband
or three small defects constant increase in level
multiples

Defect inner ring many

Bpfi and
small defects with High, Asynchronous Broadband noise,
significant Radial
damage all around the constant peaks increase in level
multiples
bearing race
 Multiples have higher
Defect outer ring, Bpfo and Asynchronous
Radial Constant level than basic
small single defect multiples peaksr
frequrncy

Defect outer ring,

Bpfo and Increased broaband
increased single Radial Constant Broad band
multiples noise level
defect

Defect ball or roller, Bsf and

Radial Constant Narrow band
single ball defect multiples

Bsf and High, Increased broaband

More defect balls Radial Narrow band
multiples constant noise level

Damaged fundamental
Broadband
train, broken at one Radial Broad band Low level on noise
noise
place

Fundamental train Broadband Noise due to fragments

Radial Broad band
broken in pieces noise from FTF in the bearing

High frequency
Bad pretension or oil Natural bearing
noise Radial Broad band
film frequency
haystack

Number of multiples

Loose bearing, and the amplitude is a

1 X multiples Radial Narrow band
rotation around shaft measure of how loose

the bearing is.

Loose mount in Increased low

1X, 2X, 4X Radial Narrow band
bearing house frequency noise floor.

Severe looseness or 0,5 X and 4X to 8X and/or 7X to

Radial
bearing fault multiples 15X

180 degrees phase

1X, 2X bearing High difference at the axial

Cocked bearing Axial, radial Narrow band
frequences constant direction at each side

of the bearing house.

Note:
X = speed (RPM)
ftf = fundamental train frequency (approx. = 0,38X to 0,42X)
bsf = ball rotation frequency (approx. = 1,5X to 3X)
bpfi = ball pass frequency, inner ring (approx. = 4X to 10X)
bpfo = ball pass frequency, outer ring (approx. = 2X to 7X)

http://www.vtab.se/training/vibration-school/rolling-element-bearing-problem/?lang=en