FAILURE ANALYSIS GEARSSHAFTSBEARINGSSEALS
2 — GEAR DISTRESS AND FAILURE MODES Distress or failure of gears may be classified into four categories: 1 – surface fatigue (pitting), 2 – wear, 3 – plastic flow 4 – breakage. The appearance of the various distress and failure modes can differ between gears that have through hardened teeth and those that have surface hardened teeth.