Table 23-4.

Typical Failure Modes for Bushing

FAILURE MODE FAILURE CAUSE FAILURE EFFECT

Loose on shaft Vibration Loose coupling

Corrosion Dissimilar materials/fluid Shaft failure
Misalignment, excessive
Structural failure Bushing failure
load
Damaged set screw Over tightening Bushing failure
Loss of radial or axial
Loss of lubrication Damaged grease seal
movement

23.4.2 Bushing Failure Rate

The failure rate of a bushing depends on many design factors including the yield
strength of the material, hardness, elastic modulus, thermal conductivity, and galling
resistance. Application variables include load, shaft speed, surface contaminants,
lubrication and clearance. In highly loaded, slowly rotating systems, the maximum
bearing pressure is considered a key design criterion. Maximum pressure is the highest
compressive stress a bushing can sustain without failure due to cracking or spalling.
Normally, this maximum pressure should be no greater than twice the yield strength of
the bushing material. For less highly loaded but more rapidly rotating systems, the
pressure-velocity (PV) limit is a factor determining failure rate. In this case pressure is
the total weight supported by the shaft converted to a compressive load, and velocity is
the rotational speed converted to a velocity.

Typical published failure data for a bushing would indicate a failure rate of 0.72
failures/million hours. Obviously, this rate needs to be adjusted depending on personal
experience with the application. In some cases the bushing is an integral part of a
shaft. Chapter 20 provides guidance on determining a failure rate for this application.
Chapter 21 contains information on the use of bushings in a chain linkage.

23.5 CAM MECHANISM

A cam is a projecting part of a rotating wheel or shaft that strikes a lever at one or
more points on its circular path. The cam can be a simple tooth to deliver pulses of
power or an eccentric disc or other shape to produce a smooth oscillating motion in the
follower. A cam-follower is the lever or output link making contact with the cam. The
follower can be in the form of a roller, it may be a flat face or spherical in shape.
Miscellaneous Parts Revision B
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