Estudo termográfico de auxílio ao diagnóstico de falhas mecânicas em pistas de rolamento: o caso dos rolamentos rígidos de uma carreira de esferas sem blindagem.

Abstract

The objective of this work was to study mechanical failures in machine elements through Thermography. The case investigated was that of the rigid bearings of a sphere race without shielding. Regarding the objectives, the research is explanatory and technical procedures are experimental. The methodology used, in this work, made use of a test bench constituted by motor, bearing and bearing, mounted in inertial table, monitored by means of vibration sensors and thermal camera. In the samples of bearings mechanical faults were inserted through a micro grinding and under conditions of control of rotation, load, temperatures, ventilation and humidity were carried out the tests. As a result, it was possible to observe thermal changes in certain regions of the bearings, which coincided with oscillatory frequency peaks of the vibration spectrum as a function of FFT time. Another important aspect is that the thermal detections are better evidenced in the first few minutes of the observed system activation. It can be concluded that it is possible to use the Thermography technique to detect mechanical failures in bearings as long as thermographic analysis is performed in the initial instants of heating the object, with attention to maintain the environmental conditions and other variables of study under control.