An Overview of Bearing Vibration Analysis

Vibration produced by rolling bearings can be complex and can result from geometrical imperfections during the manufacturing process, defects on the rolling surfaces or geometrical errors in associated components. Noise and vibration is becoming more critical in all types of equipment since it is often perceived to be synonymous with quality and often used for predictive maintenance. In this article the different sources of bearing vibration are considered along with some of the characteristic defect frequencies that may be present. Some examples of how vibration analysis can be used to detect deterioration in machine condition are also given.