LAUSR

Abstract The angle position of the outer ring fault has a significant influence on the residual life and the operation performance of ball bearing. Therefore, the realization of the localization diagnosis of the outer ring fault is of great importance to the bearing performance degradation assessment and the life prediction. In this paper, a novel localization diagnosis method, named horizontal–vertical synchronized root mean square (HVSRMS) localization law and localization formula, is developed to diagnose the angle position of outer ring fault accurately. Firstly, based on the established nonlinear contact model of the bearing system, the detailed change law of static contact force when the angle position of the outer ring fault is on both sides of 270° is studied, which lays a theoretical foundation for the discovery of localization law. Subsequently, the vibration acceleration signal and dynamic contact force of the outer ring fault are synchronously analyzed through theoretical research, and the new feature for localization diagnosis is presented as: the prime impact direction of horizontal vibration acceleration (IPDoHVA). Therefore, the outer ring fault localization law of ball bearing is proposed. On this basis, the HVSRMS localization formula is improved by combining it with the localization law. Thus the one-to-one mapping relationship between HVSRMS and outer ring fault angle position is determined. Finally, experiments are carried out to validate the accuracy and feasibility of the proposed localization law and localization formula. The research results provide a new approach and method for localization diagnosis and the residual life prediction of a defective bearing.