A Reliable Life Consumption Assessment and Individual Life Monitoring Method for Rolling Bearings

Abstract

Rolling bearings are critical rotating components in aerospace and high-speed trains. The service loads of rolling bearings are generally different from each other, causing significant differences in their damage degrees and reliable life potential. To ensure bearing reliability during service, a reliable life consumption assessment and individual life monitoring method is proposed. Firstly, a small-sample reliable life evaluation method is established based on an accelerated life test conducted at a constant load or load block spectrum before delivery, by which the lower confidence limit of the reliable life of the rolling bearing under any service load can be calculated with the required confidence and reliability. Then, the confidence limits of the reliable life consumption percentage and remaining reliable life percentage for each rolling bearing can be evaluated in real time according to their online monitoring loads and Miner’s law. By this means, individual life monitoring and online life management can be conveniently realized. Compared with traditional bearing life management methods, which do not consider service load differences, this method can more effectively ensure service safety and simultaneously maximize the life potential of bearings.

Keywords

• rolling bearings
• reliable life
• life consumption
• individual life monitoring
• reliability
• confidence