Influences on Generation of White Etching Crack Networks in Rolling Bearings

In rare cases rolling bearings fail by WEC (white etching crack) damage before reaching their calculated rating life, if so called additional loads are applied on the bearing in addition to the normal Hertzian stress (pHz). A number of additional loads have been identified by means of tests with rolling bearings. These can be small direct currents as a result of electrostatic charge or large alternating currents from inverter-fed drives that unintentionally flow through the bearing. WEC damages can also be initiated by a pure mechanical additional load which is dependent on factors including the bearing kinematics but also on the dynamics of the drive train. The current state of knowledge on this subject is presented and taken as the basis for developing a hypothesis on the WEC damage mechanism. If load situations critical for WEC cannot be avoided, the risk of WEC can be considerably reduced by the selection of suitable materials and coatings as well as, in some cases, of suitable lubricants.