Typical Vibration Signatures

*Component damage induced vibration ie, gear meshing, gear

tooth damage, bearing failure, etc..
* High 1x Radial vibration
* Phase diagram analysis will show shift in phase.
* Maybe confused for Resonance. Need to analyse other charts.

* High 1x and 2x Radial vibration

* Phase diagram will show erratic

* High 1x and harmonics Radial vibration

* Phase diagram shows erratic
* Rotating looseness can generate harmonics, but not every harmonics
means looseness. Need to analyse other charts.

* High 1x and Either High 2x or 3x or 4x or.. Radial Vibration

* 180deg radially on components on either side of coupling
* Phase analysis should be performed to CONFIRM Misalignment

* High 1x Axial vibration

* 180deg radially on components on either side of coupling
* Phase analysis should be performed to CONFIRM Misalignment
* Can be mistaken for other signatures.
* Will amplify most of other vibrations by 20%.
* Look at base of spectrum and check for humps which are telltale sign of
resonance.

* Perform calculation of all the below. Check FFT Spectrum if frequency

of high amplitudes matches with any of the component frequency, to
identify the faulty component.
Definitions

Timewave form

Spectrum

Phase analysis

Displacement

Velocity

Acceleration

Radial
Axial

Looseness
Misalignment
Unbalance
Resonance
Amplitude vs time chart. Such as Velocity vs Time or Acceleration vs Time.

Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) Chart, can be generated from timewave form of Acceleration A(m/s2) vs Time or
Velocity V(rms) vs Time.

From the mangled waveform, each unique amplitude-frequency wave is decoupled and placed on the spectrum in
the above presentation. Acc vs time or Vel vs time

Comparison of 2 charts using either (1) Rotation phase(rev/time) VS timewave form. Or (2) Two time wave form
charts.

This is to check motion of machine for phase shift, between 1 reference and 1 measured components, the
component with significant phase shift to rotor running speed is the likely one defective.

Tool: (1) Tachometer&Sticker+Accelerometer or (2) 2x accelerometer (better, no need stop machine)

Rarely used- Used for low speed application only.

Usually in ips (in/s) or mms (mm/s) - Used to determine severity of vibration due to unbalance, misalignment,
looseness, resonance. It measures only in X-Y-Z Axis Only (Axial, Horiz, Verti)
Usually provided in units G or m/s2 - Used to determine faults with bearings, gear meshing or electrical swings. It is
very good for fault finding in High Frequency Range in Rotational Axis Only.

Axis Horiz & Vertical of the shaft

Axis Parallel of the shaft

Excitation of natural frequency, resulting in excessive forces which will cause unbalance, vibrations

Ways to identify natural frequency (1) Impact/knock test, (2) Trial run, (3)ODS/Modal analysis.
(1) Give the machinery a knock while vibration probe is attached. Check FFT Spectrum, and natural frequency and
its harmonics will be identified.
(2) Run the machine at various speeds to identify the natural frequency
(3) Run FEM of the model to check modal analysis
3 most important vibration analysis tool: (1) Time wave form, (2) Spectrum, (3) Phase analysis.
rum, (3) Phase analysis.