-
PLAIN BEARING FAILURE
4.0 Cavitation Erosion
| Click on photograph to enlarge | |
| Suction cavitation damage occurs when the shaft moves rapidly away from the bearing, resulting in a major reduction in pressure towards the centre of any bearing land creating bubbles which rapidly collapse resulting in erosion of the gearing surface. | |
| Main Characteristics | This type of erosion damage usually occurs near the middle of bearing lands, away from any oil groove or feed holes, and in regions where the shaft moves rapidly away from the bearing surface. |
| Cause | |
| Note | |
| Possible Confusion with Other Types of Damage | |
| Comment | This is a case of vaporous cavitation. For an example where the less violent gaseous cavitation was involved, see section 4.3 "Cavitation Damage Caused by Bearing Instability" and section 6 "Copper deposit on thrust bearing". |