Metallurgical Analysis of Ball Bearing Seized During Operation

  • Abhay K. Jha
  • M. Swathi Kiranmayee
  • P. Ramesh Narayanan
  • K. Sreekumar
  • P. P. Sinha
Article
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Abstract

440C stainless steel of martensitic grade is being extensively used for bearing application because of its high wear and corrosion resistance. This alloy steel with 1 wt.% C along with 17 wt.% Cr, 1 wt.% Mn and up to 0.75 wt.% Mo has a number of primary carbides, which provide high hardness and good wear resistance. Owing to its unique performance characteristic, this steel finds a number of applications in space program. One such application is bearing used in booster pump assembly of propulsion system. During one of the ground tests of propulsion system, booster pump bearing seized operation after performing its partial intended function. The bearing was removed from the assembly and cut open. The ball and outer caging were analyzed using metallographic techniques and compared with another bearing taken from the fresh stock. Study indicated that ball as well as outer caging experienced exposure to high temperature and resulted in phase transformation. This article highlights the details of investigations carried out.

Keywords

aerospace failure analysis metallography 
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Notes

Acknowledgment

The authors are indebted to Shri P.S. Veeraraghavan, Director, VSSC for permission to publish this study.

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Copyright information

© ASM International 2011

Authors and Affiliations

  • Abhay K. Jha
    • 1
  • M. Swathi Kiranmayee
    • 1
  • P. Ramesh Narayanan
    • 1
  • K. Sreekumar
    • 2
  • P. P. Sinha
    • 3
  1. 1.Material Characterisation DivisionVikram Sarabhai Space CenterTrivandrumIndia
  2. 2.Materials and Metallurgy GroupVikram Sarabhai Space CenterTrivandrumIndia
  3. 3.Materials and Mechanical EntityVikram Sarabhai Space CenterTrivandrumIndia

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