Basic Vibration Analysis
9/10/15
Handling Vibration in
Reciprocating Pumps
With Common Causes and their
Signatures
Eyo Etim [Production Maintenance (Mechanical)]
Copyright of SIEP
Objectives
Re-Introduce the concept of Vibration in machines
Present a Business Case for Vibration Analysis
Present the concepts of:
how Vibration is measured
how measured values are interpreted
common causes of vibration & their signatures
Arouse the interest of Mechanical Maintenance Engineers
Copyright of Shell Brands International AG
Basic Vibration Analysis
9/10/15
Introduction
Vibration is simply the oscillating motion of an object or
dynamic system about its position of rest.
Can be desirable: for hearing, Pacemakers, etc.
Or Undesirable: in structures and machines
In this context, Vibration refers to the excess of it the
undesirable
Copyright of Shell Brands International AG
Basic Vibration Analysis
9/10/15
Business Case (Why Bother?)
Growing concern for more efficient use of Machines, Materials and
Money
Improving emphasis on Condition Based Maintenance (which):
Reduces Maintenance Costs
Improves Plant Reliability
Optimizes use of resources
Vibration Analysis is at the heart of Condition Based Maintenance
Unbalance
Misalignment
Temp. Analysis
Pressure
Flow Analysis
Oil Analysis
Vib. Analysis
Roller Bearing Damage
Gear Damage
Mechanical Looseness
Noise
Cracking
Copyright of Shell Brands International AG
Basic Vibration Analysis
9/10/15
Basic Model
All Machines can be broken down to Mass and Stiffness
Mass is represented by an object that can move about its neutral position
Displacement
Stiffness is represented by a Spring that constrains that movement
Time
A Vibrating body moves about its reference position at the frequency of its
exciting force
Copyright of Shell Brands International AG
Basic Vibration Analysis
9/10/15
Vibration Measurement
To determine the level of Vibration of a body, you can measure
the:
Displacement of the body from its rest position (mils or
micrometer). Commonly used for low frequency phenomena
Velocity: the rate of change of Displacement the speed of
the Vibration (in/sec or mm/sec). Used for vibration in the
range of 10 10000Hz
Acceleration: rate of change of the Velocity change in
Vibration speed (G or in/sec2 or mm/sec2). Commonly used
for high frequency
vibration phenomena e.g. Gear Mesh
Basic Vibration Analysis
9/10/15
Copyright of Shell Brands International AG
Sensor Relationships
Velocity has a uniform response over a wide range of machine frequencies and is
generally used to measure and evaluate machine integrity in relation to balance,
tightness, alignment and the like.
Copyright of Shell Brands International AG
Basic Vibration Analysis
9/10/15
Overall Vibration
Machine components vibrate
at different frequencies
Individual Vibration signals
combine to form a complex
time waveform showing overall
Vibration
A model of a Real Machine comprises a complex
network of Mass Spring connections
Copyright of Shell Brands International AG
Basic Vibration Analysis
9/10/15
Time Domain Plot
Typically derived from the
signal from an accelerometer
or velocity probe
Displays a short time sample
of the raw vibration
Includes a combination of all
Vibration signals within the
probes frequency range
Gives a clue but not as useful
as other analysis formats
Copyright of Shell Brands International AG
Basic Vibration Analysis
9/10/15
Frequency Spectrum
Data is converted from
the Time Domain to the
Frequency Domain using a
Fast Fourier Transform
The Amplitude indicates
the severity (of the
problem)
The Frequency indicates
the source (of the
Copyright of Shell Brands International AG
Basic Vibration Analysis
9/10/15
Water Fall Plots
A 3D Plot of the Vibration Spectra against a Third Variable such as
Speed, Time, etc.
Copyright of Shell Brands International AG
Basic Vibration Analysis
9/10/15
Common Terms
1x: the running speed of the machine. The fundamental
frequency.
Critical Speed: rotating speed associated with high vibration
amplitude. Often the speeds corresponding to the natural
freq.
CPM: cycles per minute. 60cpm = 1cycle per second (cps) =
1Hz.
FFT: Fast Fourier Transform for converting a time waveform to
a spectrum
Harmonics: integer multiple of the fundamental frequency.
Copyright of Shell Brands International AG
Basic Vibration Analysis
9/10/15
Common Causes & Signatures
Angular Misalignment
Indicated as axial vibration at the
running speed frequency (1x)
Causes fatigue failure of the bearing
by loading it above design limits
Overall Vibration, FFT & Phase
Measurement used to diagnose
misalignment problems
Copyright of Shell Brands International AG
Basic Vibration Analysis
9/10/15
Common Causes & Signatures
Parallel Misalignment
Indicated as radial vibration at twice the
running speed frequency (2x)
Most misalignment is a combination of
angular and offset
Misalignment forces are seldom the
same in both horizontal and vertical
positions
Copyright of Shell Brands International AG
Basic Vibration Analysis
9/10/15
Common Causes & Signatures
Imbalance
Single Frequency Vibration whose
amplitude is the same in all Radial
directions
Occurs at 1x the running speed and
generally does not contain harmonics of
1x running speed
Amplitude increases with speed up to
the first critical speed of the machine
Copyright of Shell Brands International AG
Basic Vibration Analysis
9/10/15
Common Causes & Signatures
Looseness
Abnormally high running speed (1x)
amplitude
Long string of peaks at rotating
frequency harmonics or rotating
frequency harmonics (range 2x to 10x)
with amplitude greater than 20% of 1x
amplitude
Copyright of Shell Brands International AG
Basic Vibration Analysis
9/10/15
Enveloping
Enveloping filters out low frequency noise
Aids in analysis of high frequency Vibration phenomena
like gear mesh or repetitive ball bearing signals
Copyright of Shell Brands International AG
Basic Vibration Analysis
9/10/15
Standards for Vibration Measurement
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Basic Vibration Analysis
9/10/15
Others
ISO 13373-1:2001 Condition Monitoring and Diagnostics of Machines:
General Procedures
ISO 17359:2003 Condition Monitoring and Diagnostics of Machines:
General Guidelines
ISO 18436-2:2003 Condition Monitoring and Diagnostics of Machines:
Requirements for Training and certification of personnel
American Petroleum Institute Standards:
Copyright of Shell Brands International AG
Basic Vibration Analysis
9/10/15
