Analysis of bearing failures in a typical high-power marine gearbox
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to analyze fatigue failures of a typical marine gearbox under harsh ocean conditions, and these failures are reasonably attributed to the bearing fretting fatigue damages.
Design/methodology/approach
Two typical FAG cylindrical roller bearings mounted on this marine gearbox are particularly used for analysis, as they are most vulnerable to these failures. A series of simulations have also been conducted to verify the analysis results and failure reasons by reproducing the fretting fatigue damages for the same shaft-bearing system under the same manufacturing error conditions.
Findings
The analysis results indicate that manufacturing errors are the most possible reasons for the bearing failures, and these errors have more effects on the FAG cylindrical roller bearing as compared to other bearings mounted on the same shaft system. The simulations results are in good agreement with the theoretical analysis results and test results and hence validate that manufacturing errors are the dominant reasons for bearing fretting fatigue damages in this typical marine gearbox.
Originality/value
Fatigue failures of a typical marine gearbox. Manufacturing errors are the most possible reasons for the bearing failures. A series of simulations have been conducted to verify the analysis results and failure reasons. The simulations results are in good agreement with the theoretical analysis results and test results.
Keywords
Citation
Gu, H., Feng, G., Lin, Y. and Wang, C. (2018), "Analysis of bearing failures in a typical high-power marine gearbox", Industrial Lubrication and Tribology, Vol. 70 No. 1, pp. 33-41. https://doi.org/10.1108/ILT-10-2016-0246
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2018, Emerald Publishing Limited