WILJAM FLIGHT TRAINING

Chapter 8.6
Vibration Monitoring
Introduction
A turbo jet engine has a very low vibration level, and any change in vibration, could be the first
indication of an impending problem, which could easily go unnoticed. Any problems may be
caused by:

A damaged compressor blade

A turbine blade that has a crack or is subject to `creep',
An uneven temperature distribution around the turbine blades and rotor discs may
be set up.

Any of these problems could result in an unbalanced condition of the main rotating assemblies,
and could lead to possible disintegration. In order to provide the flight crew with a timely warning
of increased vibration, jet engines are fitted with vibration monitors, which continually monitor
their vibration levels. On a multi jet aeroplane a monitor is fitted to each engine, and these are
designed to indicate if the maximum amplitude of vibration of the engine exceeds a pre-set
level. These indicators are located within the control group of instrumentation and are usually
milli-ammeters that receive signals through an amplifier from engine-mounted transmitters, and
are displayed as relative amplitude.
Vibration Monitoring System
The monitor is mounted on the engine casing and consists of a vibration pick-off (sensor), which
is mounted at right angles to the engine axis, an amplifier-monitoring unit, and an indicator
calibrated to show vibration amplitude in thousandths of an inch (mils) as shown below.

The sensor (transducer) is a spring-supported permanent magnet, which is suspended in a coil

attached to the interior of the case. As the engine vibrates, the sensor unit and core move with
it, but the magnet, tends to remain fixed in space because of its inertia. The motion of the coil
causes the turns to cut the field of the magnet, thus inducing a voltage in the coil and providing
a signal to the amplifier unit. The signal, after amplification and integration by an electrical
transmission system, is then fed to the indicator via a rectifying section.

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WILJAM FLIGHT TRAINING

An amber indicator light also forms part of the system, together with a test switch. The light is
supplied with dc from the amplifier rectifying section and comes on if the maximum amplitude of
vibration exceeds a pre-set value. A test switch also permits functional checking of the system's
electrical circuit. In some engine installations, two sensors may be fitted to an engine: for
example, in a typical turbofan engine, one monitors vibration levels around the fan section, and
the other around the engine core section. A system of filters in the electrical circuit to the gauge
makes it possible to compare the vibration is recorded against a known frequency range, and so
enables the source of vibration to be located. A multi-selector switch enables the flight crew to
select a specific area, and to obtain a reading of the level of vibration.
In systems developed for use in conjunction with LCD and CRT display indicators, the vibration
sensors are of the type whereby vibration will cause signals to be induced in a piezoelectric
sensor stack.

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