® SKF Condition Monitoring
Magnitude and Phase
Monitoring for Determining
Shaft Cracks and Other
Defects on Large Rotors
For a number of years, many organizations
have recognized the advantages and
benefits of monitoring both magnitude and
phase on large critical machines, such as
turbine generators and reactor coolant
pumps.
Thrown blade tips or shrouds, progressive
rotor bowing caused by increasing electrical
resistance, and shaft cracks are examples
of defects that alter rotor dynamics.
Depending upon the angular relationship to
residual imbalance, these and other defects
may produce a deceptive decrease in
overall and running frequency amplitude.
A number of methods have been proposed
and employed for earliest detection of shaft
Application Note
CM3004 Figure 1. Example of an acceptance circle for detecting changes in magnitude and phase.
cracks and other defects rotor properties.
These methods include rundown response
and monitoring of the operating magnitude
and phase vectors.
Magnitude and phase monitoring in polar
and rectangular coordinates from operating
vibration are available with SKF Condition
Monitoring’s PRISM2 Software, used in
conjunction with the Microlog Portable
Collector. This computer aided condition
monitoring system monitors and displays
vital dynamic characteristics. It also
recognizes and informs the user of
abnormal changes that might not be
detected with less comprehensive
monitoring methods.
 Symptoms of Shaft Cracks
® Among the defects that cause changes in
rotor properties, shaft cracks can lead to
catastrophic failure with immense financial
consequences for both repairs and lost
"Magnitude and production. Several organizations have
concluded that shaft cracks produce
Phase Monitoring changes in running frequency and twice
for Determining running frequency vectors for a given set of
Shaft Cracks and operating conditions.
Other Defects on The change in the running speed vector is
Large Rotors" attributed to the change in rotor deflection
produced by the crack. The change in the
twice running speed vector is attributed to
asymmetrical stiffness. Because a crack
produced deflection is unrelated to residual
imbalance, the resulting vibration amplitude
may increase or decrease., thereby making
detection difficult with conventional
amplitude monitoring.
SKF Condition Monitoring Detection Method Using An
Area Centers Acceptance Circle
North and South America Several organizations have monitored
4141 Ruffin Road operating magnitude and phase vectors of
San Diego, California 92123 USA
Telephone (619) 496-3400
large turbine generators. Their experiences
FAX (619) 496-3531 have shown that the vectors at running
speed and twice running speed vary
Europe, Middle East, Africa predictably with operating conditions, such
Postbus 2091 as load. Several organizations have
5300 CB Zaltbommel
recommended employing a circle, centered
The Netherlands
at the head of a reference vector, as
Telephone (+31) 418-541010
FAX (+31) 418-540455 acceptance criteria.
Asia, Pacific The radius of the acceptance circle (Figure
153 Gul Circle, Jurong 1) is typically set in proportion to the
Singapore 629610 maximum permissible variation between a
Telephone (+65) 861-6922 reference vector and subsequent steady-
FAX (+65) 861-3044
state operating vectors. So long as the
operating vector remains within the
acceptance circle (or polar coordinates), the
change from the reference is within
tolerance. A vector outside the circle is
reported as a violation that warrants detailed
analysis.
Advantages of Acceptance
Circle Monitoring
Acceptance circle monitoring is
advantageous when the allowable change
in magnitude is larger that the magnitude of
CM3004 (Revised 10-92)
Copyright © 1992 by
SKF Condition Monitoring, Inc.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
the initial vector. This condition may occur
when rotor balance is very good and the
amplitudes at rotating frequency and its
harmonics are small. The acceptance circle
permits phase rotation through 360
degrees, provided the magnitude remains
sufficiently small.
Magnitude and Phase
Monitoring in Rectangular
Coordinates
In addition to displaying the amplitude and
phase plot in polar coordinates (Figure 1).
PRISM2 software provides two plots of the
same information in rectangular
coordinates.
One plot displays magnitude and phase on
the vertical axis with time along the
horizontal axis. This plot is similar to the
familiar Bode plot of magnitude and phase
response versus speed, with time replacing
speed.
The second plot displays magnitude or
distance between the heads of the
reference and subsequent vectors.
Magnitude and time are on the vertical and
horizontal axes, respectively.
In this plot, the radius of the acceptance
circle becomes a horizontal line. The
distance recorded between reference and
operating vectors forms a value versus time
trend. Distance values below the line
formed by the radius of the acceptance
circle are acceptable. The values above the
line are violations.
This plot is advantageous in that all changes
from the reference vector will appear as an
increasing trend. In comparisons, when the
same change is observed in the magnitude
versus time trend, it may appear as a
decreasing trend or no trend at all,
depending on the change in phase.
To assure all eventualities are covered,
PRISM2 software also is capable of
displaying and monitoring amplitude and
phase of the fundamental at rotating
frequency and three harmonics – the
second through the fourth order multiple of
rotating frequency.