Bearing Ball Pass Frequency of Outer Race Fault Case Study
APSA team identified a BPFO fault in a vibration inspection. The fault was characterized by high-frequency impacts, a distinct BPFO peak in the Envelope FFT, and no amplitude modulation.
📊 Classic Bearing Fault Case Study – BPFO in Action!
In a recent vibration inspection, the APSA team identified a Ball Pass Frequency of Outer Race (BPFO) fault — a classic and well-documented case in condition monitoring.
Key observations:
🔹 High-frequency impacts were visible in the acceleration (ACC) signal
🔹 The Envelope FFT showed a distinct BPFO peak
🔹 No amplitude modulation was observed — and that makes sense!
Why no modulation? Because the defect on the outer race is fixed in position. As the rolling elements pass over the damaged point, impacts occur at regular intervals without variations in load direction. This is typical of outer race defects.
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