Bearing Condition Monitoring

What this topic covers

Vibration, temperature, lubrication and operating context around rolling-element and journal bearings.

Core ideas

Bearings can degrade through lubrication problems, contamination, fatigue, overload or misalignment.

Different monitoring techniques are sensitive at different stages of degradation.

A reliable diagnosis combines condition data with maintenance and operating history.

Program tradeoffs

Load, speed and operating state can change signals even when machine condition is unchanged.

What good evidence looks like

Diagnosis should combine vibration, temperature, lubrication, process and maintenance history where appropriate.

Lifecycle perspective

Monitoring should produce actionable work or engineering review rather than accumulating alarms without response.