Comparison of vibration and acoustic measurement techniques for the condition monitoring of rolling element bearings

Abstract

The detectability of defects in ball bearings by various vibration and acoustic measurement methods is compared. Measurements have been performed on good new bearings and bearings with simulated defects in their elements. The vibration and acoustic measurements performed are: overall vibration acceleration, envelope detected acceleration, overall sound intensity and sound pressure, shock pulse, and acoustic emission ringdown counts and peak amplitude. The results indicate that, in general, the detection of defects by acoustic emission and envelope detected acceleration is better as compared to other measurements