Engineers assessing a whitemetal bearing for failure analysis

Bearing Technical Library

Practical engineering guidance for understanding, specifying, inspecting and maintaining hydrodynamic whitemetal bearings.

Explore Failure Guides Ask an Engineer
Library in development

A Growing Engineering Reference

The technician rules of thumb, bearing terminology, hydrodynamic lubrication, journal bearing type comparison, lining and backing materials, temperature limits and sensors, copper-free requirements, journal preload, dynamic coefficients and first failure-analysis guides are available now. Further articles on design, inspection and installation will be added as they are technically reviewed.

Technician reference

Whitemetal Bearing Rules of Thumb

Quick values for temperature, clearance, surface finish and inspection, plus unit conversions, field checks and calculators for surface speed and projected load.

Open Quick Reference

Bearing Fundamentals and Design

Start With the Principles

Understand the language, how the lubricant film carries load and how geometry, lining construction and dynamic force coefficients affect performance.

Completed whitemetal bearing assembly illustrating bearing terminology
Searchable glossary

Bearing Terminology

Distinguish materials, load directions, bearing forms and lubrication principles, including whitemetal, Babbitt, sleeve, journal, thrust and fluid film.

Open terminology guide
Tilting-pad journal bearing used to explain hydrodynamic lubrication
How bearings work

Hydrodynamic Lubrication

Learn how speed, viscosity and converging geometry generate oil-film pressure in journal and thrust bearings.

Read operating principle
Finished whitemetal lining on large thrust bearing pads
Materials and repair

Whitemetal Lining Thickness

Understand finished lining depth, fatigue and embedability trade-offs, published examples, inspection thresholds and re-lining measurements.

Open thickness guide
Tilting-pad journal bearing geometry used to explain preload
Journal geometry

Bearing Preload Explained

See how machined pad clearance and assembled clearance define preload, then check the ratio with a practical calculator.

Understand preload
Bearing performance model used to calculate stiffness and damping coefficients
Rotordynamics

Stiffness and Damping Coefficients

Interpret Kxx, Kyy, direct and cross-coupled terms, units, frequency dependence and the data required for a rotor model.

Read coefficient guide
Instrumented whitemetal bearing components used for temperature monitoring
Monitoring

Bearing Temperature Limits

Distinguish oil, metal and film temperatures, then apply published limits, sensor locations and alarm-setting principles correctly.

Read temperature guide
Oiltech fixed-profile journal bearings compared with tilting-pad designs
Bearing type selection

Fixed-Profile vs Tilting-Pad Journal Bearings

Compare stationary sleeve and profiled bores with independently pivoted pads, including oil-wedge formation, cross-coupled forces, rotor stability, mechanical complexity and the operating data needed for selection.

Compare journal bearing types
Instrumented tilting-pad journal bearing used to explain RTDs and thermocouples
Instrumentation

Bearing Temperature Sensors

Compare bearing RTDs and thermocouples, position sensors in fixed-profile, tilting-pad journal and thrust bearings, then distinguish continuity, insulation, calibration and protection-loop tests.

Open sensor guide
Metallic tilting-pad thrust bearings illustrating fluid-film bearing material selection
Material systems

Fluid-Film Bearing Material Selection

Compare Babbitt, bronze, copper-lead, aluminium-tin and tri-metal constructions, including relative strengths, contamination and corrosion risks, backing choices and a defensible selection workflow.

Open material selection guide
Whitemetal tilting pads with steel and copper-alloy structural backing
Structural and thermal design

Whitemetal Bearing Backing Materials

Compare steel, bronze, copper-chrome, CuCrZr and legacy cast-iron backing, including heat transfer, pad distortion, pivot contact, bonding, specification and repair implications.

Compare backing materials
Finished whitemetal bearing requiring controlled copper content and material traceability
Chemical compatibility

Copper-Free Whitemetal Bearings

Understand what the phrase means, why H2S, sour-gas or ammonia service may drive it, and how to define the chemistry, assembly boundary and verification method.

Open copper-free guide

Failure Analysis

Identify Bearing Damage Patterns

Use the visible evidence as a starting point, then confirm the mechanism against operating history, lubrication data, shaft condition and machine geometry.

Fatigue cracking and material loss in a whitemetal bearing lining

Fatigue

Cyclic loading, vibration and high temperature can initiate cracks and lead to lining pullout.

Read failure guide
Wiped whitemetal bearing caused by oil starvation

Oil Starvation & Wiping

Interrupted or inadequate lubrication can collapse the oil film, causing rubbing, smearing and melting.

Read failure guide
Black scab and wire wool damage on a whitemetal bearing

Wire Wool & Black Scab

Embedded hard particles can machine the shaft and generate wire-like metallic debris.

Read failure guide
Contamination scoring across a whitemetal bearing surface

Contamination & Scoring

Dirt or metallic debris in the lubricant can score the lining and damage the mating surface.

Read failure guide
Uneven whitemetal bearing damage caused by misalignment

Misalignment

Geometric or operational misalignment concentrates load and temperature at an edge or end of the bearing.

Read failure guide
Electrical discharge pitting in a whitemetal bearing lining

Electrical Discharge

Stray current or shaft magnetism can produce pitting, frosting or spark tracks across the bearing surface.

Read failure guide
View Failure Analysis Overview

In Development

Planned Failure Guides

Cavitation erosionPlanned
Corrosion and hydrogen sulphide attackPlanned
Lacquering and oil varnishPlanned
Lining extrusion, creep and crackingPlanned
Pivot wear and pivot fatiguePlanned
Bore distortion and uneven wearPlanned

Future Sections

Technical Topics Being Developed

These topic groups establish the scope of the library. Titles marked as planned are not yet technical guidance.

Bearing Fundamentals

  • Journal and thrust bearing selection Planned
  • Fixed-profile and tilting-pad bearing design Planned
  • Oil film thickness and bearing clearance Planned
  • Hydrodynamic performance parameters Planned

Design & Lubrication

  • Load, speed and oil data for bearing selection Planned
  • Centre-pivot and offset-pivot thrust pads Planned
  • Equalising and non-equalising thrust bearings Planned
  • Flooded and directed lubrication Planned

Inspection & Repair

  • When to repair or replace a bearing Planned
  • Whitemetal re-lining process Planned
  • Ultrasonic bond testing to ISO 4386-1 Planned
  • Dye penetrant testing to ISO 4386-3 Planned

Materials & Standards

  • Polymer and composite bearing materials Planned
  • BS 3332, ASTM B23 and ISO 4381 Planned
  • Material compatibility with process fluids Planned
  • EN 10204 material certification Planned

Installation & Operation

  • Bearing clearance and lift checks Planned
  • Shaft and thrust collar condition Planned
  • Oil cleanliness and system flushing Planned
  • Start-up, shutdown and jacking oil Planned

Technical Resources Available Now

Whitemetal Alloys

Alloy grades, properties and selection.

Design & Analysis

Performance modelling and design support.

Bearing Repair

Inspection, re-lining and recovery.

Case Studies

Engineering changes proven in service.

Need Help With a Bearing Problem?

Send photographs, operating data and failure history for an initial engineering review.

Ask an EngineerTechnical Services