PreDiCon

Predictive Maintenance Procedure # Vib.18

Date:July 11, 1995

Procedure Name: Signature Analysis

Purpose: To provide a routine procedure for analysis of vibration in order to promote understanding of the
relationship between vibration frequencies and their causes.

Activities:
1) Carry out procedure Vib.03 up to section 14.0

2) Select the first plot of the machine which will be at the driver outboard and will be an enveloped
acceleration reading. You have already identified the run speed accurately in procedure Vib.03. If
you have frequency information for the machine ensure that the reference speed is accurate - if not
you must change the speed reference before continuing.

3) 3.0 In the envelope spectrum see if any of the generated frequencies coincide with (or are close to)
any significant spikes. Remember that the bearing frequencies may not be completely accurate if the
bearing which has been nominated in the frequency setup has been replaced with an equivalent.
As a rule of thumb:
Ball Pass Frequency Outer Race ~= Run Speed x No. Of Rolling Elements x 0.4
Ball Pass Frequency Inner Race ~= Run Speed x No. Of Rolling Elements x 0.6
Cage Frequency ~= Run Speed x 0.4
Note that this vibration is not necessarily direction specific.

4) Once a spike at a bearing frequency has been identified you should check the waterfall display and
check the trend. If the trend is deteriorating then further checks are necessary. Be careful that you do
not confuse a run speed harmonic or an electrical frequency with a bearing defect frequency. One
common bearing frequency is just over 3 x run speed for BPOR on a 8 element bearing. The run
speed of an electric motor cannot exceed the electrical speed so harmonics of run speed cannot have a
frequency even slightly more than 3600 cpm (for a 1200 rpm motor) or 5400 cpm (for a 1800 rpm
motor) or 10,800 cpm (for a 3600 rpm motor) - if the spike is even at a slightly higher frequency then
it is likely caused by a bearing defect otherwise it is likely a run speed harmonic or an electrical
frequency.

5) In the single spectrum plot double click on the “Lin” label twice which will convert the display to
dB(G) (the reference has been set to 0.001 G). Identify the carpet amplitude in dB(G) - this is the
average amplitude (excluding spikes). Identify the amplitude of the spikes above the carpet level.
The following rules of thumb apply to enveloped acceleration levels in dB(G):
> 20 dB(G) rise in carpet level - under lubrication
10 - 15 dB(G) spike above carpet - minor marking
>20 dB(G) spike above carpet - marked race.
If the spectrum shows multiples of run speed then there is an impact every rev of the rotor, with
possible looseness if there are many multiples. If the bearing defect frequencies have sidebands of
cage frequency then there is a FALSE BRINELLING problem. If the bearing defect frequency and
harmonics have sidebands of run speed then there is probably a defect on the inner race. As the
defect deteriorates then the carpet level will rise and the sidebands and harmonics will increase in
amplitude up to a certain amplitude then stop. The carpet level will continue to rise as random
marking occurs around the bearing and may rise to mask the spikes completely.

6) Move to the velocity spectrum for the same point (linear). Check to see if there are any spikes in
velocity at the bearing defect, harmonics of the defect and/or sidebands of the defect - look
particularly for the second and third harmonics. If any spike at these frequencies exist then there is
physical spalling of the race. If the amplitude of the spike reaches 1 mm/s then the spalling is severe
- the bearing should be changed long before it reaches this level.

Procedure Vib.18
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7) In the velocity spectrum the following patterns indicate the associated defects:

Dominant Secondary Harmonics Sidebands Dominant Defect Suggested

Frequency Frequency of Direction Maximum
Dominant Amplitude
Frequency @
Dominant
Frequency
1x Nil Nil Nil Radial Imbalance 6 mm/s
1x 1/2 x Multiple Nil Radial Looseness 3 mm/s
1x 3x 2 or 3 Nil Axial Misalignment 4 mm/s
BPFO / BPFI 1x Multiple 1x / Cage Radial Bearings 0.5 mm/s
7,200 cpm Rotor Bar 2 or 3 2xLF of RBF Any Electrical 5 mm/s
Any Any Nil Nil Any Resonance 7 mm/s
Gear Mesh 1x 3 or 4 1x Radial Gearing 1 mm/s
2x Belt 1x 2 or 3 N/A Radial Belts 5 mm/s

8) If there is a significant defect raise a work request as per procedure Vib.01

Procedure Vib.18
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