Damping1 Damping2 Problem Statement

Free vibration Self-excited

Back to Problem Statement page Back to Diagnostic Strategy
Problem Statement & Way-Forward;
i. High vibration registered on engine radiator fan bearing. A steep change on the
vibration trend observed between Jan’20 and Feb’20, and then vibration
consistently high throughout the year 2020. (Engine) (data_plots_trending)
ii. Engine PPM done in May’21 conducted by LGAS Mechanical team found out
loose bearing lock at radiator fan bearing & pulley bearing.
iii. In correspond to this findings CBM closely monitor the vibration while planning
to perform in-situ balancing to the radiator fan during any available shutdown
window, prior to proceed with this plan, CBM will require to take transient &
steady-state vibration data along with phase lag measurement in order to
confirm the vibration is truly due to unbalance. (radiator fan / pulley)
iv. Upon check the phase reading during transient and steady-state, CBM confirmed
excessive vibration registered on engine radiator fan bearing not due to
unbalance but possibly due to weak support based on phase analysis taken
during transient state i.e. run-up/coastdown (phase).
v. CBM advice operation to further test this unit but with additional support
underneath radiator fan. (Diagnostic Strategy)
Data Plots;
Diagnostic strategy Back to Previous Page
Back to Previous Page
Back to Previous Page
Back to Previous Page
Back to Previous Page

Understand Phase Analysis

Back to previous page

Back to previous page sample data plots

Direct Spectrum
Bode Shaft centerline Orbit
Back to Previous Page what is the problem what do I already know What does it tell me Operating Modes
Data Presentation Plot Formats
A detailed description of standard machinery diagnostic plot formats.

Orbit and Timebase Plots

The Orbit plot shows the path of the
shaft centerline. The rotor vibration is
sensed by two orthogonally mounted
(XY configuration) Proximity probe
transducers. The X and Y transducer
signals shown in the Timebase plot
show the vibration with respect to the
individual transducer. When the two
timebase signals are combined, a two
dimensional picture of the path of the
shaft centerline (Orbit) is generated.
The Orbit plot is one of the most
powerful machinery management plots,
because it combines vibration
amplitude, phase and frequency into a
single plot that is easy to interpret.
Trend Plot
A presentation in Cartesian format of a measured
variable versus time. The correlation of process
related information (flow, load, pressure, tank
level, etc.) with vibration and position information
can be a very powerful machinery diagnostic tool.
In many cases the ability to determine the
fundamental cause of a machine malfunction
depends upon process information.
Average Shaft Centerline Plot
This plot is constructed from the dc (position) component of the Proximity probe signal. Two XY
Proximity probes are necessary for this two dimensional, radial position, measurement.
Correlation of shaft position measurements: stopped versus at speed, cold versus hot, no load
versus normal load, is an important diagnostic tool. This is a very effective indicator of bearing
wear and changes in the machines alignment state. When the orbit plot for a selected point is
added to its corresponding dc position then a correlation can be made between orbit shape
changes and the dc position change.

Average Shaft Centerline Plot with

DC Orbit Overlay

Orbit

Some applications allow the Shaft Centerline plots to provide the option to create Orbit plots for
selected points and to display these on top of their corresponding DC position points. This
illustrates how the orbit changes as the DC position changes.
Half Spectrum Plot
Commonly a presentation of a signal's frequency
components versus amplitude. The Spectrum Plot
shows the frequency content of a signal. This plot is
useful in determining which frequency components
are included in a complex vibration signal.

Full Spectrum Plot

An enhanced spectrum plot produced by using the
timebase waveforms from XY transducers to calculate
the amplitudes of the forward and reverse (backward)
frequency components. This plot is very effective at
determining the direction of precession for various
frequency components.

Half Spectrum Waterfall Plot

The Waterfall Plot is generated from a
series of spectrum plots taken over a period
of time or changing load conditions. The
vertical axis is usually time (can be load)
and the horizontal axis shows the vibration
frequency. The Waterfall Plot is useful in
determining changes to various frequency
components.
Full Spectrum Waterfall Plot
The full spectrum waterfall plot is
constructed from the output of two
orthogonally mounted Proximity Probe
transducers. It shows the forward and
reverse frequency components over a time
range. The Waterfall Plot is generated from a
series of spectrum plots taken over a period
of time or changing load conditions. The
vertical axis is usually time (can be load) and
the horizontal axis shows the vibration
frequency. The Waterfall Plot is useful in
determining changes to various frequency
components.

Half Spectrum Cascade Plot

The Spectrum Cascade Plot is a series of
spectrum plots taken over a speed range,
usually at set speed intervals. It is a useful plot
to determine frequency relationships over a
speed range.
Full Spectrum Cascade Plot
The Full Spectrum Cascade is constructed from
the output of two orthogonally mounted Proximity
Probe transducers. It shows the forward and
reverse frequency components over a speed
range.
Polar Plot
Polar format presentation of the locus of the shaft
1X (or 2X, nX…) filtered vibration amplitude and
phase lag from a single vibration channel as a
function of shaft rotative speed. The data used in
this plot is identical to the data used in the Bode
plot. The polar plot is generated usually during
machine startup or coastdown (transient operation).
This plot is sometimes incorrectly called a Nyquist
plot. This plot is useful in determining the slow roll
vector, slow roll speed range, balance resonant
frequencies, synchronous amplification factor,
heavy spot location and rotor mode shape.
Acceptance Region Plots
Trend information of the 1X or 2X vibration vectors
(amplitudes and phase lag angles) presented in
polar or Cartesian format, or the shaft average
centerline position in Cartesian format. The user
defines the normal Acceptance Region for each
shaft radial vibration or position measurement on
the machine, based on historical data or the
machine under all normal operating conditions. If
the vibration vectors or shaft position go outside the
Acceptance Region hardware and/or software
alarms should indicate a possible problem. Alarm
setpoints should be set independently for maximum
and minimum values of amplitude, phase and
position. Acceptance Region information is an
important indicator of a shaft crack and other
machine malfunctions.
Amplitude and Phase Versus Time (APHT) Plots
An acronym used to describe the trend plot of filtered vibration amplitude and phase angle data. This data
may be presented in both Cartesian and polar formats. Commonly used for 1X, 2X and nX vibration data.
Under constant operating conditions a machine’s vibration amplitude and phase lag usually does not
change appreciably. A change in amplitude and phase lag under constant operating conditions indicates
that something has changed inside the machine.
Bode Plot
A pair of graphs in Cartesian format
displaying the 1X vibration vector
(phase lag angle and amplitude) as a
Angle of
function of shaft rotative speed. The Y Compensated
Heavy Spot
axis of the top graph represents 1X
phase lag angle, while the Y axis of 180°

the bottom graph represents 1X Uncompensated

amplitude. The common X axis Plot of High Spot

represents shaft rotative speed. This Balance Resonance

plot is also used for 2X, 3X, etc.

vibration vectors. The data used in
this plot is identical to the data used in
the Polar plot. This plot is useful in Uncompensated
determining the slow roll vector, slow Compensated
roll speed range, balance resonant
frequencies, synchronous
amplification factor, heavy spot
location and rotor mode shape.
Tabular List Plot
While not a graphical plot the
tabular list plot provides a view of
the digital data in a logical grouping.

Displays samples in a numerical

table rather than in a graphical
format.

The top example on the right

displays the data in a paging mode
“by channel” while the bottom
example on the right is displaying
data in a paging mode “by sample”
Back to Problem Statement Page