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 AGENDA
 What is Vibration
 Vibration Characteristics
 Vibration Instruments
 Vibration Measurement
 Vibration Analysis Steps
 Imbalance
 Misalignment
 Looseness
 Antifriction Bearings
 Gear Problems
 Electrical Defects
 Fluid Vibrations
 Case Studies
Vibration is the response of a system to an internal or external
stimulus causing it to oscillate or pulsate.
Vibration has three measurable characteristics
 Amplitude
 Frequency
 Phase

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Amplitude tells us the magnitude of vibration.
Amplitude can be measured in displacement (mils or r R velocity
(in/sec or mm/secR or acceleration (gR.
Frequency less than 600 CPM = Use Displacement
Frequency is 600 to 120 000 CPM = Use Velocity
Frequency over 120 000 CPM = Use Acceleration




Displacement (proximity probesR is measured in  (=

thousandth of inchR
Velocity (seismic probesR is measured in 

Acceleration (accelerometersR is measured in  





Displacement is measured in   

(= millionth of meterR
Velocity is measured in 
Acceleration is measured in 

The average thickness of a human hair is about 5 mils which is the same as TRIP set point of all
radial probes installed at K-2502 Syn Compressor!!
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Frequency tells us how many times the machine is moving/vibrating per
unit of time.
Frequency is the indicator of the vibration stimulating problem.
Units are CPM or RPM.

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Phase angle tells us in which direction a specific section of the machine
is vibrating relative to some point. Phase is the angular measurement
between a reference point and the vibration peak in a time waveform.
Phase angle is used to distinguish between several problems as indicated
by the frequency.
Vibration data collection can be collected using:
 Mounted instruments / probes
 Proximity Probes
 Seismic Probes
 Portable instruments
 Overall vibration meters (VibrapenR
 Vibration Analyzers (CSI 2130R
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The seismic or velocity probe/transducer will measure
total vibration at whatever point it is attached to -
usually the bearing housing of a running machine.

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The proximity probe measures actual shaft movement
usually within its bearing housing onto or through
which it is usually mounted.
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These are used for surveillance purpose only.
These cannot be used for analyzing or
identifying problems.
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These are used for analyzing and identifying
problems that cause vibration issues
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 Vibration Analyzers can be used to collect vibration data in the
following manner
 Vibration Time Waveform
 Vibration Spectrum
 Vibration Phase Angle
Each of the above methods of vibration data helps in a unique way
to pinpoint the vibration stimulating problem.
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Time wave form gives the amplitude and direction of vibrating motion of
a specific part of the machine in time domain.

This is usually over a small period of time. The same for a longer
duration is called trend.
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Vibration spectrum is a calculated graph plotted through Fast Fourier
Transformation of a Time Wave Form. This vibration graph shows the
amplitude of vibration in frequency domain.
Vibration problems can be diagnosed in relation to the frequencies being
synchronous sub synchronous or non synchronous.

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 are those that are intergral multiples of
shaft speed (1XR. Imbalance Misalignment Looseness Vane pass
freq etc are examples of Synchronous Frequencies
 
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V2
 are those that are not integral
multiples of the shaft speed. Bearing Defects except for Fundamental
Train Freq. FTF Cavitation and Resonance are examples of
Nonsynchronous frequencies.
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V2
 are those that are below shaft speed.
Cage frequency of roller element bearings oil whirl are examples of
Subsynchronous frequencies.
 This was all about Vibration Basics.

Let¶s now proceed towards How to Analyze a Vibration Signature and

How to Diagnose a Problem through Vibration Spectrum«
Before analyzing a vibration problem the following should be known to
the analyst. Without this data Vibration Analysis is like groping in the
darkness.
 Machine configuration. Identify all major
components and sketch on a paper like
motor pump gearbox etc.
 Determine as many as possible forcing
frequencies before taking vibration data
 Shaft speeds in the machine train
 Bearing fault frequencies
 Belt frequencies
 Gear Mesh Frequencies
 Blade pass frequencies
Now collect the vibration data and analyze it for possible problems.
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Since we don¶t live in an ideal world almost always there is one problem
or the other which is brewing up in the machine.
It is not possible to attend the machine on the onset of slightest of
problems diagnosed by vibration analysis as it results in machine down
time man hours and spares cost.
As a rule of thumb allowable limit of Overall Vibration in the Spectrum
of Centrifugal machines is 0.3 in/sec for machines at Plant-I and 7.6
mm/sec for machines at Plant-II.
P.T.O
 /  $ 

Imbalance is the result of a shaft¶s center of mass not rotating at the
center of rotation. This is because of a heavy spot on the rotor. This
heavy spot produces a centrifugal force that forces the rotor to rotate off-
center and causes a high vibration amplitude at 1 x Turning Speed (TSR
Frequency in the spectrum and sinusoidal waveform in the time domain
data.
Imbalance can be
 Static Imbalance
 Dynamic Imbalance
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Freq Domain : 1 x TS
Time Domain : Sinusoidal
Phase Difference : 0 Deg H to H or V to V across the rotor
90 Deg H to V on same bearing
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Freq Domain : 1 x TS
Time Domain : Sinusoidal
Phase Difference : 180 Deg H to H or V to V across the rotor
90 Deg H to V on same bearing
6 High level radial vibration:
Steady 1X component ± waveform and frequency
Amplitude at 1X increases steadily with speed
Low level at 2X 3X etc.
6 Low level axial vibration.

6 Notes:
6 Strong 2X 3X « indicate misalignment looseness bent shaft or
cocked bearings which must be corrected before checking for imbalance.
6 If 1X µbeats¶ check for broken rotor bars or cocked bearings in motors.
6 If small change in speed causes drastic changes in 1X component
Resonance is suspected.
6 On horizontally mounted machine check H V and A vibration. If V is
higher suspect base looseness. If A is higher suspect misalignment.
Correct these problems before balancing the machine.
/   


Misalignment occurs because of poor alignment between mating pieces
such as coupling halves bearings shafts and pulleys.

 

  
 Misalignment results in high axial and radial vibrations. The highest
radial vibration usually occurs in the direction of the misalignment.
 The axial vibrations can be as much as 0.5 to 2 times the amplitude
of the radial readings.
 The radial readings can appear at 1X 2X 3X and even higher
multiples of shaft turning speed. However in certain cases the
predominant vibration occurs at 1X TS and can be confused with
unbalance. In such cases phase data is used to distinguish between
unbalance and misalignment.
  


Freq Domain : High1x 2x 3x. Low 4x-10x harmonics (if high
suspect loosenessR.
Time Domain : Repeatable periodic time waveform with 1 2 3 or
4 clear peaks per revolution. No high µg¶ impulses.
Phase Difference : 180 Deg in radial or axial direction across the
coupling
Other High axial vibration excessive bearing
temperatures
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Misalignment can be
 Angular Misalignment
 Parallel / Offset Misalignment
 Combination of the above two
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Freq Domain : 1x TS in axial (highR and radial direction
Time Domain : Sinusoidal with one or two clear cycles per
revolution
Phase Difference : 180o in radial vertical or axial direction across
the bearings of the same machine
Other : 2x TS in radial direction if Offset Misalignment is
also present.

   


Freq Domain : Dominant peak in 2x TS in radial direction
Time Domain : Sinusoidal with one or two clear cycles per
revolution
Phase Difference : 180o in horizontal or vertical direction across
the coupling.
Other : 1x TS peak in radial & axial direction.
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Misalignment can also be :
 Coupling Misalignment
 Bearing Misalignment / Cocked Bearing
 Bent Shaft
'
  


Coupling misalignment occurs when coupling is worn or the coupling is
not installed properly.
The characteristics of a misaligned coupling are a combination of
Angular and Parallel misalignment. o  
  
_ 
  


Bearing misalignment occurs when the bearings are not installed in the
same plane they are 30 relative to the shaft or if the machine
distorts due to thermal growth or soft foot.
Freq. Domain : Normally highest peak at 1x A. Harmonics at 2x
3x or number of balls x TS in the axial direction
Time Domain : Waveform often shows truncated or flattened
pattern indicating a rub. It may also appear
periodic or sinusoidal with low amplitude.
Phase Difference: 180o phase difference in axial direction from top
to bottom or side to side on the same bearing
_
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Freq. Domain : Dominant peak at 1x TS in radial and axial
direction if the shaft is bent near the center.
Dominant peak at 2x TS if the shaft is bent near
the coupling.
Time Domain : The waveform is a mixture of misalignment and
imbalance
Phase Difference: 180o in axial direction across the bent shaft. 90o or
270o from horizontal to vertical direction on a
bearing. 180o from top to bottom or side to side in
axial direction
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Mechanical looseness occurs when structural or rolling element
components do not fit properly.
Freq. Domain: A large number of TS harmonics characterizes looseness
in the spectrum. In some cases and stages looseness
exhibits subharmonics of 1/2 x TS. The highest amplitude
typically appears radially in the vertical direction.
Time Domain: Waveform shows a great deal of energy and impacting in
a random high frequency pattern.
Phase: The phase has no set relationship and is unsteady.
Base looseness of horizontal machines will often appear as high 1X level
in V; greater than H component.
 
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Foot looseness may emerge due to weakness in the base plate or
foundation deterioration of the grouting loose hold-down bolts or a
cracked or broken foot.
Freq. Domain: Dominant frequency is at 1xTS radially.
Time Domain: Waveform is periodic.
Phase: 180o phase diff. between machine foot vertically and
concrete base.
  
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To help determine a soft foot issue loosen each foot one at a time
always keeping the others tight and then retighten while the
spectrum is still measuring. Any notable reduction in the one-times
(1xR energy during the loosening process can be a strong indication
of the relief of machine frame distortion.

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Before the loosening sequence: All four feet are tightened; the 1X After the loosening sequence: One of the four feet was loose; the 1X
amplitude is 0.127 inches/second. Radial measurements were taken in the amplitude is now 0.048 inches/second.
vertical direction.
Antifriction bearing faults can be identified by bearing defect frequencies
in a spectrum. Following are the bearing defect frequencies:
FTF = Fundamental Train Frequency
or Cage Frequency
BSF = Ball Spin Frequency
BPFO = Ball Pass Frequency Outer race
BPFI = Ball Pass Frequency inner race
These frequencies are specific for each bearing type. Although complex
formulae are available for calculation of these frequencies for each
bearing yet it is convenient to use bearing software that are designed for
the specific purpose of bearing defect frequency determination.
These bearing defect frequencies only appear in a spectrum if there is a
fault in the bearing.
Following is an example of these bearing frequencies
Bearing : 6214 (P-2504 O/B bearingR
Pump RPM = 3570
# of Balls = 10
BPFO = 14655 BPFI = 21045
BSF = 9653 FTF = 1465
Note that FTF is sub synchronous and the rest are non synchronous.
Gear problems are usually a bit tricky to identify. Before analyzing a
signature for gear problems the Gear Mesh Frequency (GMFR of the
gear should be known
GMF = (# Gear teethR x (RPM of the same gearR
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It should be noted that the gear mesh frequency will always be present in
the spectrum whether or not there is a problem with gears. Gear
problems are detected with the help of side bands of the GMF
GMF Sidebands = GMF  TS
The appearance of the sidebands of the GMF in the spectrum indicate
that a problem exists with the gear. As the amplitude of these side bands
increases it means that the gear problem is worsening.
_3

The problem of a broken tooth cannot be detected by the spectrum alone.
The time waveform needs to be looked at for this. If one tooth is broken
then a pulse will be generated once per revolution of the gear with the
broken tooth.
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Usually in order to find out if the vibration problem is because of motor
or because of the driven machine the motor is discoupled from the
driven equipment and the vibration is checked. However it should be
kept in mind that electrical defects disappear from vibration spectrum if
the motor is operated in discoupled state. In discoupled state only the
mechanical defects of the motor can be picked up in the vibration
spectrum like bearing defects rotor unbalance etc.
  )*

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Usually people think of Vane Pass as
the pump¶s primary vibration frequency.
Vane pass is not always a defect
frequency but is an operational
frequency. It is normal to see this
frequency in pump vibration data. A 5-Vane Impeller of Centrifugal Pump

Vane pass frequency = (shaft speedR x

(no. of blades or vanesR
A problem with impeller¶s vane appears as high vane-pass frequency
harmonics with sidebands ± radial or axial.
Blade damage may cause imbalance.
Impeller looseness may look like mechanical looseness.
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Vibration due to Cavitation is typically seen as harmonics of turning

speed upto the impeller vane pass frequency. Higher frequency broad
band noise can also be found. This broad band vibration is usually
present above the impeller blade pass frequency.
µRaised floor¶ is an indication of cavitation.
If there is a raised noise floor - look in the time waveform. The
waveform will show you the impacts rubs bursts of energy from
cavitation and so on. Cavitation is a common problem during startups. It
can be rectified by increasing the fluid head (pressureR at suction.
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Here is an interesting example. The first spectrum is 800 lines. Notice the broad bases of the
peaks. Could it be resonance? The next spectrum is 3200 lines - you can see there is more to
it. And the third spectrum is zoomed in to the base of the peaks.

Time waveform of cavitation showing bursts

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