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.

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