There are many factors that can affect the service life of rolling bearings; these can be further categorised into operational factors and intrinsic factors.

Operational factors primarily refer to whether installation and adjustment, operation and maintenance, and repair and servicing comply with technical requirements. In accordance with the technical requirements for the installation, operation, maintenance and servicing of rolling bearings, the load, rotational speed, operating temperature, vibration, noise and lubrication conditions of bearings in operation must be monitored and inspected. Should any abnormalities be detected, the cause must be identified immediately, adjustments made, and normal operation restored. Installation conditions are one of the primary factors among operational considerations. Inappropriate installation often leads to changes in the force distribution between the various components of the bearing assembly, causing the bearing to operate under abnormal conditions and resulting in premature failure. Whether the force applied during bearing installation is too great or too small can affect the bearing’s performance and service life, and may even cause damage. Below are four techniques to note during the force application process.

1. The force applied should be steady and uniform, without any impact. This requires the use of hydraulic pressure or tools capable of applying a steady tensile or compressive force. If hammering is absolutely unavoidable, a buffer such as a copper sleeve—a soft metal that does not produce debris—must be used, and the striking force should be as gentle as possible. It is best to use a copper rod or copper hammer for striking.

2. The force must be applied continuously until the task is complete. For example, when installing a bearing, stop applying force just as the bearing reaches the correct position, ensuring that the end face of the ring (or washer) abuts against the end face of the housing bore or the shoulder of the shaft; it must not be forced too tightly, nor must it be left partially seated.

3. The resultant force should pass through the bearing’s axis as much as possible. This requires the application points to be evenly distributed, symmetrical and steady, with force applied via a spherical surface or parallel to the axis. 4. Avoid applying force through the rolling elements; this requires applying force through the inner ring (shaft ring) when installing or removing it, and through the outer ring when installing or removing the outer ring.

Provided that the force applied during bearing installation and removal is steady and uniform, without impact, and that the force is maintained until the task is completed, the bearing will not be damaged during installation.

The metallurgical quality of rolling bearing materials was once the primary factor contributing to premature bearing failure. With advances in metallurgical technology (such as vacuum degassing of bearing steel), the quality of raw materials has improved. The proportion attributed to raw material quality in bearing failure analysis has decreased significantly, yet it remains one of the principal factors influencing bearing failure. The appropriateness of material selection remains a factor that must be considered in bearing failure analysis.

The manufacture of rolling bearings generally involves multiple processing stages, including forging, heat treatment, turning, grinding and assembly. The rationality, sophistication and stability of each processing method also affect the bearing’s service life. Among these, the heat treatment and grinding processes, which influence the quality of the finished bearing, often have a more direct relationship with bearing failure.

Recent research into the altered layers on bearing working surfaces indicates a close relationship between the grinding process and bearing surface quality.

The primary objective of rolling bearing service life analysis is to identify the main factors causing bearing failure based on extensive background data, analytical results and failure modes, so as to propose targeted improvement measures to extend the service life of bearings and prevent sudden premature failure.