An updated review: White etching cracks (WECs) and axial cracks in wind turbine gearbox bearings

Abstract

The actual service life of wind turbine gearboxes is often well below the desired 20 years. One of the prevalent failure modes in gearbox bearing raceways is white structure flaking (WSF) in as little as 6–24 months of operation by the formation of axial cracks and white etching cracks (WECs) with associated microstructural change called white etching areas (WEAs). Despite these failures having been observed for two decades in various industries, the drivers and mechanisms for their formation are still highly contested. Discussed in this review are methods for searching and analysing WECs, mechanisms for WEA microstructural change, WEC initiation and propagation theories, WSF formation drivers and finally technologies and processes offering resistance to WSF. This updated review serves as a recap, comprehensive update on findings, current focus areas and remaining challenges. This paper is part of a Themed Issue on Recent developments in bearing steels.