Chapter 5

VIBRATION THEORY
Mathematical techniques allow us to quantify total displacement caused by all vibrations, to convert the displacement measurements to velocity or acceleration, to separate these data into their components through the use of FFT analysis, and to determine the amplitudes and phases of these functions. Such quantification is necessary if we are to isolate and correct abnormal vibrations in machinery.

PERIODIC MOTION
Vibration is a periodic motion, or one that repeats itself after a certain interval of time called the period, T. Figure 3.1 illustrated the periodic motion time-domain curve of a steam turbine bearing pedestal. Displacement is plotted on the vertical, or Y-axis, and time on the horizontal, or X-axis. The curve shown in Figure 3.4 is the sum of all vibration components generated by the rotating element and bearing-support structure of the turbine.
Harmonic Motion

The simplest kind of periodic motion or vibration, shown in Figure 3.2, is referred to as harmonic. Harmonic motions repeat each time the rotating element or machine component completes one complete cycle. The relation between displacement and time for harmonic motion may be expressed by:

X = Xosin(wt)
The maximum value of the displacement is X which is also called the amplitude. , The period, T, is usually measured in seconds; its reciprocal is the frequency of the vibration, measured in cycles-per-second (cps) or Hertz (Hz).

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Vibration Fundamentals

Figure 5.1 Illustration o vibration cycles. f

1 f = -

Another measure of frequency is the circular frequency, o, measured in radians per second. From Figure 5.1, it is clear that a full cycle of vibration (ot)occurs after 360 degrees or 2n radians (i.e., one full revolution). At this point, the function begins a new cycle.

rn = 2nf
For rotating machinery, the frequency is often expressed in vibrations per minute (vpm) or

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19

!
Figure 5.2 Two harmonic motions with a phase angle between them.

VPM = n:

By definition, velocity is the first derivative of displacement with respect to time. For a harmonic motion, the displacement equation is: X = X,sin(wt) The first derivative of this equation gives us the equation for velocity: dX v = - = X = wx,cos(ot) dt This relationship tells us that the velocity is also harmonic if the displacement is harmonic and has a maximum value or amplitude of -mX,,. By definition, acceleration is the second derivative of displacement (Le., the first derivative of velocity) with respect to time: d'X .. 2 a = - = X = -w Xosin(wt)
dt2 . . .
1

This function is also harmonic with amplitude of w X , Consider two frequencies given by the expression X, = a s i n ( o t ) X 2 = b sin( or and

+ 4) , which are shown in Figure 5.2 plotted against wt as the X-axis.

The quantity, 4, in the equation for X , is known as the phase angle or phase difference between the two vibrations. Because of 4, the two vibrations do not attain their maxi-

4 mum displacements at the same time. One is - seconds behind the other. Note that
w

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Vibration Fundamentals

Figure 53 Nonhmonic periodic motion. .

these two motions have the same frequency, o.A phase angle has meaning only for two motions of the same frequency.
Nonharmonic Motion

In most machinery, there are numerous sources of vibrations, therefore, most timedomain vibration profiles are nonharmonic (represented by the solid line in Figure 5.3). While all harmonic motions are periodic, not every periodic motion is harmonic. Figure 5.3 is the superposition of two sine waves having different frequencies, and the dashed lines represent harmonic motions. These curves are represented by the following equations: XI = usin(olt) X, = bsin(02t) The total vibration represented by the solid line is the sum of the dashed lines. The following equation represents the total vibration:

X = X, + X,

= asin(olt)

+ bsin(02t)

Any periodic function can be represented as a series of sine functions having frequencies of w, 20, 30, etc.:

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f ( t )=Ao+Alsin(wt+($1)+A2~in(20t+($2)+A3sin(30t+@3)+ ...

This equation is known as a Fourier series, which is a function of time orxf). The amplitudes (A,, A,, etc.) of the various discrete vibrations and their phase angles @2, @ 3 . ..) can be determined mathematically when the value of function At) is known. Note that these data are obtained through the use of a transducer and a portable vibration analyzer. The terms, 2o,3o,etc., are referred to as the harmonics of the primary frequency, o. In most vibration signatures, the primary frequency component is one of the running speeds of the machine-train (lx or lo). In addition, a signature may be expected to have one or more harmonics, for example, at two times (2x), three times (3x), and other multiples of the primary running speed.

MEASURABLE PARAMETERS
As shown previously, vibrations can be displayed graphically as plots, which are referred to as vibration profiles or signatures. These plots are based on measurable parameters (i.e., frequency and amplitude). Note that the terms profile and signature are sometimes used interchangeably by industry. In this module, however, profile is used to refer either to time-domain (also may be called time trace or waveform) or frequency-domain plots. The term signature refers to a frequency-domain plot.
Frequency

Frequency is defined as the number of repetitions of a specific forcing function or vibration component over a specific unit of time. Take for example a four-spoke wheel with an accelerometer attached. Every time the shaft completes one rotation, each of the four spokes passes the accelerometer once, which is referred to as four cycles per revolution. Therefore, if the shaft rotates at 100 rpm, the frequency of the spokes passing the accelerometer is 400 cycles per minute (cpm). In addition to cpm, frequency is commonly expressed in cycles per second (cps) or Hertz (Hz). Note that for simplicity, a machine elements vibration frequency is commonly expressed as a multiple of the shafts rotation speed. In the preceding example, the frequency would be indicated as 4X, or four times the running speed. In addition, because some malfunctions tend to occur at specific frequencies, it helps to segregate certain classes of malfunctions from others. Note, however, that the frequency/malfunction relationship is not mutually exclusive and a specific mechanical problem cannot definitely be attributed to a unique frequency. While frequency is a very important piece of information with regard to isolating machinery malfunctions, it is only one part of the total picture. It is necessary to evaluate all data before arriving at a conclusion.

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Vibration Fundamentals

Amplitude

Amplitude refers to the maximum value of a motion or vibration. This value can be represented in terms of displacement (mils), velocity (inches per second), or acceleration (inches per second squared), each of which is discussed in more detail in the following section on Maximum Vibration Measurement. Amplitude can be measured as the sum of all the forces causing vibrations within a piece of machinery (broadband), as discrete measurements for the individual forces (component), or for individual user-selected forces (narrowband).Broadband, component, and narrowband are discussed in a later section titled Measurement Classifications. Also discussed in this section are the common curve elements: peak-to-peak, zero-to-peak, and root-mean-square.

Maximum Vibration Measurement

The maximum value of a vibration, or amplitude, is expressed as displacement, velocity, or acceleration. Most of the microprocessor-based, frequency-domain vibration systems will convert the acquired data to the desired form. Because industrial vibration-severity standards are typically expressed in one of these terms, it is necessary to have a clear understanding of their relationship.

Displacement Displacement is the actual change in distance or position of an object relative to a reference point and is usually expressed in units of mils, 0.001 inch. For example, displacement is the actual radial or axial movement of the shaft in relation to the normal centerline usually using the machine housing as the stationary reference. Vibration data, such as shaft displacement measurements acquired using a proximity probe or displacement transducer should always be expressed in terms of mils, peakto-peak. Velocity Velocity is defined as the time rate of change of displacement (i.e., the first derivative,
dt

or X ) and is usually expressed as inches per second (in./sec). In simple terms,

velocity is a description of how fast a vibration component is moving rather than how far, which is described by displacement. Used in conjunction with zero-to-peak (PK) terms, velocity is the best representation of the true energy generated by a machine when relative or bearing cap data are used. (Note: Most vibration monitoring programs rely on data acquired from machine housing or bearing caps.) In most cases, peak velocity values are used with vibration data between 0 and 1000 Hz. These data are acquired with microprocessor-based, frequency-domain systems.

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Acceleration Acceleration is defined as the time rate of change of velocity (i.e., second derivative of
dX displacement, 7 X ) and is expressed in units of inches per second squared (in./ or dt sec2). Vibration frequencies above IO00 Hz should always be expressed as acceleration. Acceleration is commonly expressed in terms of the gravitational constant, g, which is 32.17 ft/sec2. In vibration analysis applications, acceleration is typically expressed in terms of g - R M S or g-PK. These are the best measures of the force generated by a machine, a group of components, or one of its components.

Measurement Classifications
At least three classifications of amplitude measurements are used in vibration analysis: broadband, narrowband, and component.

Broadband or Overall The total energy of all vibration components generated by a machine is reflected by broadband, or overall, amplitude measurements. The normal convention for expressing the frequency range of broadband energy is a filtered range between 10 and 10,000 Hz, or 600 and 600,000 cpm. Because most vibration-severity charts are based on this filtered broadband, caution should be exercised to ensure that collected data are consistent with the charts. Narrowband Narrowband amplitude measurements refer to those that result from monitoring the energy generated by a user-selected group of vibration frequencies. Generally, this amplitude represents the energy generated by a filtered band of vibration components, failure mode, or forcing functions. For example, the total energy generated by flow instability can be captured using a filtered narrowband around the vane or blade-passing frequency. Component The energy generated by a unique machine component, motion, or other forcing function can yield its own amplitude measurement. For example, the energy generated by the rotational speed of a shaft, gear set meshing, or similar machine components generate discrete vibration components and their amplitude can be measured. Common Elements of Curves All vibration amplitude curves, which can represent displacement, velocity, or acceleration, have common elements that can be used to describe the function. These common elements are peak-to-peak, zero-to-peak, and root-mean-square, each of which is illustrated in Figure 5.4.

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Vibration Fundamentals

--c

= A sin

ut

Velocity

1=

A I

COS

rt

--b2 sin Accel

Figure 5.4 Relationship of vibration amplitude.

Peak-to-Peak As illustrated in Figure 5.4, peak-to-peak amplitude (2A, where A is the zero-tothe peak) reflects the total amplitude generated by a machine, a group of components, or one of its components. This depends on whether the data gathered are broadband, narrowband, or component. The unit of measurement is useful when the analyst needs to know the total displacement or maximum energy produced by the machines vibration profile.

Technically, peak-to-peak values should be used in conjunction with actual shaft-displacement data, which are measured with a proximity or displacement transducer. Peak-to-peak terms should not be used for vibration data acquired using either relative vibration data from bearing caps or when using a velocity or acceleration transducer. The only exception is when vibration levels must be compared to vibrationseverity charts based on peak-to-peak values.
Zero-to-Peak Zero-to-peak (A), or simply peak, values are equal to one-half of the peak-to-peak value. In general, relative vibration data acquired using a velocity transducer are expressed in terms of peak.

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Root-Mean-Square Root-mean-square (RMS) is the statistical average value of the amplitude generated by a machine, one of its components, or a group of components. Referring to Figure 5.4, RMS is equal to 0.707 of the zero-to-peak value, A. Normally, R M S data are used in conjunction with relative vibration data acquired using an accelerometer or expressed in terms of acceleration.