The Influence of Load and Speed on the Initial Breakdown of Rolling Bearings Exposed to Electrical Currents

The reason for the failure of electric vehicle drives is increasingly current-induced damage to rolling bearings. Studies show that rolling bearings are more susceptible to current pass-through after the first occurrence of unwanted bearing currents. To investigate this effect, a test plan is introduced with variations in axial and radial loads, as well as rotational speeds. A new bearing is mechanically run-in for each test point and then subjected to a realistic voltage signal of gradually increasing amplitude. After the initial breakdown, the different voltage amplitudes are applied again to investigate the behavior after the initial breakdown. During the whole test, the maximum current, the duration and the dissipated energy of each breakdown are measured. The results provide insights into the processes after the initial breakdown and the stochastic nature of the breakdown behavior.