ISO 15242-2:2015

Overview

ISO 15242-2:2015 - Rolling bearings: Measuring methods for vibration (Part 2) defines standardized methods to measure and evaluate the structure-borne vibration of single‑row and double‑row radial ball bearings with cylindrical bore and outside surface (contact angle ≤ 45°). It excludes bearings with filling slots and three‑ or four‑point‑contact ball bearings. The standard is intended for measurements on dedicated test rigs (measuring devices) and complements the fundamentals in ISO 15242-1.

Key topics and technical requirements

• Scope and applicability: Radial ball bearings with cylindrical bore/outside surface; single- and double-row types; contact angle up to 45°; exceptions noted above.
• Measurement quantity: Default physical quantity is root mean square (RMS) vibration velocity ν (µm/s) measured in the radial direction.
• Rotational frequency: Default test speed is 1 800 min⁻¹ (30 s⁻¹). The standard gives guidance on using other speeds (e.g., higher for small bearings, lower for large bearings); applicable tolerances are specified in the document.
• Frequency bands: Default band-pass ranges for 1 800 min⁻¹ are:
  • Low band (L): 50–300 Hz
  • Medium (M): 300–1 800 Hz
  • High (H): 1 800–10 000 Hz The standard also gives examples for non‑standard rotational speeds and recommends proportional adjustment of filters and acceptance limits.
• Axial loading: A constant axial load is applied to the stationary ring; default axial-load values are specified by bearing outside diameter and contact angle (table in the standard). Measurements are normally made with load applied from one side and repeated with load on the opposite side (except single‑row angular contact bearings).
• Signal types: Guidance covers spectral analysis, narrow‑band options, and detection/evaluation of pulses and spikes (time-domain defects).
• Measurement conditions: Requirements for prelubricated vs non‑prelubricated bearings (cleaning, lubrication, running‑in), environmental conditions that must not influence results, and details on the measuring device (stiffness of spindle/mandrel, loading mechanism, transducer location and alignment).
• Alignment and stiffness: Limits for axial load alignment and spindle/mandrel stiffness are given to ensure reliable vibration transmission and repeatability.

Applications and users

ISO 15242-2:2015 is used by:

• Bearing manufacturers for production quality control and acceptance testing
• Test laboratories and OEMs for performance verification and product qualification
• R&D and reliability engineers for design validation and vibration diagnostics
• Maintenance and condition‑monitoring teams for establishing test procedures and baseline vibration levels Practical uses include factory acceptance tests, incoming inspection, vibration-based diagnostics and specifying measurement methods in procurement.

Related standards

• ISO 15242-1:2015 - Fundamentals (measurement duration, general principles)
• Other parts of ISO 15242 (Parts 3 and 4) for different bearing types
• ISO 2041, ISO 5593, ISO 286-2 referenced for vocabulary and tolerances

Keywords: ISO 15242-2:2015, rolling bearings, vibration measurement, radial ball bearings, RMS vibration velocity, frequency bands, axial load, test conditions, transducer alignment.