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    PLAIN BEARING FAILURE

    7.0 Thermal ratcheting of Tin-Rich White Metals and Thermal Fatigue

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    Roughening of tin-rich white metal on trailing edge of thrust pads caused by thermal cycling
    Main CharacteristicsHighlighting of tin-rich crystals in tin-rich white metal on the trailing edges of the pads where the temperature is highest.
    CauseThermal cycling causing differential rotation of the anisotropic tin-rich crystals in the white metal. It occurs at the trailing edges of the pads where thermal changes are greatest.
    Note 
    Possible Confusion with
    Other Types of Damage
     
    CommentThe effect is produced by differences in optical reflection by differences in rotation of the different crystals. The amount of rotation is small and does not have a significant effect on performance.