Relationships of characteristics and

causes of damage on bearings

Possible Operating Environmental

factor
Lubrication Mounting Other
causes

Excessive freq. of loads/speed changes

Transportation (vibration/shock)
Incorrect handling (shock loads)
(Consistency) additives selection

Incorrect locating (clamping)

Temperature too high/low
Shaft/housing deflection

Manufacturing concerns
Mounting procedures
Dust and dirt ingress

Tilting/misalignment
Excess of lubricant

Equipment design

Material concerns
Bearing selection
Electrical leakage

Lack of lubricant

Incorrect setting
Wrong viscosity
Water ingress

Fit too loose

Fit too tight
Overspeed

Failure modes

Impurities
Vibrations
Overload

Storage
with characteristics
Flaking, spalling, peeling 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4
Fatigue
Burnishing, micro cracks 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4

Excessive wear 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4
Abrasive
Scratches, scores 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4
Wear
Seizing marks, smearing 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4
Adhesive
Hot runners 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4

Moisture corrosion 4 4 4 4 4 4 4

Corrosion Fretting corrosion 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4

False brinelling 4 4 4 4 4 4 4

Electrical Craters, fluting 4 4

Depressions 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4

Plastic deformation Debris indentation 4 4 4 4 4 4

Nicks, gouges 4 4 4

Forced fracture 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4

Fracture and cracking Fatigue fracture 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4

Thermal cracking 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4

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PUB BU/P4 13557 EN · April 2013