This report describes the monitoring of bimetal aluminum/ steel bearings by means of the vibration analysis method, in particular for purposes of detection of fatigue failures in the bearing contact layer.
A built-in measurement system is used on a plain bearing test rig, continuously analyzing machine vibrations at the bearing locations and comparing them to a reference state.
This practice is based on the principle that a change in the surface characteristics of a hydrodynamic bearing also causes change in the spring and damping characteristics of the vibration absorbing elements. Thus, from the changes in the vibration transfer characteristics of the bearing, the condition of the bearing surface can be indirectly assessed.
The fundamental principles of plain bearing vibration transfer behavior, the mathematics of the monitoring system, and the application of the system to a test rig are described in detail. The results demonstrate the successful application of the system.