Bearing degradation indicator using cage speed: Extension of BeaFEM to nonstationary operating conditions
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: The well-known bearing characteristic frequencies (BPFO, BPFI, FTF and BSF) reflect the complex kinematics of operating bearings. Far from the idealised perfect rolling assumptions, the experimental frequencies deviate from their theoretical values. The deterioration of the bearing health is likely to induce changes in the cage rotating speed, materialised by a shift of the angle characteristic frequencies. Monitoring the cage speed using these frequencies can provide a valuable degradation indicator. However, nonstationary operating conditions are also known to influence the bearing motion. This work is a continuation of BeaFEM introduced by Bertoni and André (2023), and assess its potential for monitoring bearings operating under nonstationary conditions. To this end, BeaFEM is reformulated with an original interpretation using cage speed and a short-term adaptation is proposed. The possible causes of cage slip are reminded, and the influence of load is studied on two wind turbine bearings. Based on this knowledge, the influence of operating conditions is mitigated and a strategy to use the cage speed as a valuable degradation indicator is proposed.
Language: English
Subfield: Control and Systems Engineering
Field: Engineering
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $4,730
OpenAlex ID: W4413424966