Technical Paper
Characterization of Embedded Debris Particles on Failed Crankshaft Bearings
2024-04-09
2024-01-2594
Characterization of Embedded Debris Particles on Failed Crankshaft Bearings Jianghuai Yang, Qigui Wang, Zhe Li Materials Engineering & Additive Design & Manufacturing, General Motors Co., LLC Crankshaft bearings serve the function of maintaining the lubrication oil films needed to support the crankshaft journals in hydrodynamic regime of rotation. Discontinuous oil films will cause the journal-bearing couple to be in a mixed or boundary friction condition, or even a bearing seizure or a spun bearing. This condition may further force the crankshaft to break and an engine shutdown. Spun bearings have been identified to be the top reason in engine warranty replacement. Excessive investigations have found large, embedded hard debris particles on the bearings are inevitably the culprit of destroying continuity of the oil films.