Inspection of locomotive bearing rings by the acoustic-emission method

The results of testing the bearing rings (BRs) of a locomotive axle box by the acoustic-emission (AE) method are presented. The small size of the localization zone of BRs leads to a significant spread of the coordinates of flaws even at minimal errors of the time of arrival of AE signals at piezoelectric-antenna probes. To refine the testing technique, the maximum testing load necessary for initializing AE signals is determined. Deformations in BRs are measured with a strain-gauging system related to the AE system. During recording of AE signals, the mechanical stresses are measured, thus allowing rejection of parasitic signals and an increase in the localization accuracy.