BEARING SCUFFING FAILURE MONITORING BY VIRTUAL INSTRUMENTATION

Carmen BUJOREANU

cbujorea@mec.tuiasi.ro

 Spiridon CRETU

spcretu@mec.tuiasi.ro

“Gh. Asachi” Technical University of Iasi, Romania

Abstract. Scuffing diagnose of rolling element bearings can be made by analyzing the bearing friction torque which is the most sensitive indicator of bearing defects. Such analysis is possible only when an adequate model of the monitored process is known. We investigated the interdependence between the kinematical, dynamic, and lubrication conditions and friction phenomena occurring in bearing's rolling contacts subjected to an important sliding. As consequence, we advanced an original algorithm and computer code leading to scuffing criterion (µ∙p∙V^0.8). The evidence of scuffing onset is a sudden increase of friction torque. Data acquisition and transducers signal processing were performed by using a NI-DAQ board and LabVIEW 5.1 software. A two channel virtual instrument monitoring the friction force and the friction torque was created.

Keywords: angular contact ball bearing, scuffing, test device, virtual instrument