Root Cause Failure Analysis of Bearings According to ISO 15243
Alan Friedman, Zenco Vibrations
Posted on 06/20/2023
ISO 15243:2017 is a standard that classifies different modes of failure occurring in service for rolling bearings made of standard bearing steels. For each failure mode, it defines and describes the characteristics, appearance, and possible root causes of failure. The standard aims to assist in the identification of failure modes based on features that are visible on the rolling elements, raceways, and other functional surfaces.
Examples of rolling bearing failures are given in the standard, together with a description of the causes of failure and proposed corrective actions. Regular inspection and maintenance can help prevent rolling bearing failures and improve machine performance. However, there is no specific recommendation on how often rolling bearings should be inspected, and the frequency of inspection may depend on various factors such as the operating conditions, the type of bearing, and the criticality of the application.
The purpose of ISO 15243 is to help with bearing damage analysis and to provide guidance on how to prevent failures in rolling bearings. According to ISO 15243, rolling bearings can fail in different modes.
The following are the different failure modes of rolling bearings according to ISO 15243:
- Wear
- Corrosion
- Surface distress
- Fatigue
- Fracture
- Lubrication-related failures
For each failure mode, the standard defines and describes the characteristics, appearance, and possible root causes of failure. Some of the possible root causes of rolling bearing failures include improper transport, handling, mounting, or dismounting, inadequate lubrication, contamination, overloading, misalignment, and improper installation
What are the recommended maintenance practices for rolling bearings according to ISO 15243?
According to ISO 15243, here are some recommended maintenance practices for rolling bearings:
- Regular inspection of bearings to detect any signs of damage or wear
- Proper lubrication of bearings to ensure they operate smoothly and reduce friction
- Proper handling, transport, mounting, and dismounting of bearings to avoid damage
- Proper storage of bearings to prevent contamination and corrosion
- Proper alignment of bearings to ensure they operate efficiently and reduce wear
- Regular cleaning of bearings to remove any contaminants that may cause damage or wear
- Training on best practices in bearing applications, principles of mounting and dismounting rolling bearings, housings and seals, using the correct fitting and removal can also be helpful
Following these maintenance practices can help prevent rolling bearing failures and improve machine performance
Bearing Inspections
According to ISO 15243, there is no specific recommendation on how often rolling bearings should be inspected. However, regular inspection of bearings is recommended to detect any signs of damage or wear. The frequency of inspection may depend on various factors such as the operating conditions, the type of bearing, and the criticality of the application. For example, bearings in high-speed or high-load applications may require more frequent inspections than those in low-speed or low-load applications. It is important to follow the manufacturer’s recommendations for maintenance and inspection intervals.
Interestingly, ISO 15243 does not mention vibration or ultrasound monitoring of rolling element bearings nor does it mention using ultrasound technology to lubricate bearings. The standard is more focused on assessing the failure mode of the bearing based on the appearance of the defects. That said, non-destructive testing techniques such as ultrasound and vibration are typically used in place of visual inspections of bearings up until the point the bearing is replaced.
Additional Resources
If you do not wish to purchase the standard from ISO, you might want to have a look at these free references from SKF:
Want to Learn More?
Alan Friedman dba Zenco offers machinery vibration analysis courses and certification in accordance with ISO 18436-2. You can see the live course schedule here: www.ZencoVibrations.com/events You can connect with him on LinkedIN sign up for his mailing list. In addition to public classroom training and public virtual courses, Alan is also available for private courses virtually or on-site in additional to informal training and mentoring. Category I and II vibration are also available in Spanish.
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