The operating bearing life is defined as the life actually achieved by the bearing. It may differ significantly from the calculated value.
This may be due to wear or fatigue as a result of:
- deviations in operating conditions
- misalignment between the shaft and housing
- insufficient or excessive operating clearance
- contamination
- insufficient lubrication
- excessive operating temperature
- oscillating bearing motion with very small angles of oscillation (false brinelling)
- high vibration and false brinelling
- very high shock loads (static overloading)
- prior damage during installation.
Due to the wide variety of possible installation and operating conditions, it is not possible to precisely predetermine the operating life. The most reliable way of arriving at a close estimate is by comparison with similar applications.