Active Vibration and Physics-Based Health Management

The proposed approach adds critical and innovative methods to existing vibration and electric current based CBM systems that allow more detailed evaluation of machinery health. The key methods, termed as TAP™ (Time Averaged Pulse) and BLIP™ (Bump Load Induced Pulse), involve artificial stimulation applied to the machinery system. MSI’s active method provides data in response to imposed levels of excitation and is used to update on-board physics-based FEA models. The machine user is provided with specific information about remaining life and the component(s) that will be causing an interruption in equipment operation. This is accomplished by tuning (curve-fitting) the dynamic response and applying physical interpretations to trends, with the aid of fatigue, fracture mechanics, electric current, and tribological analytical methods. Key parameters used by MSI’s system include values of the natural frequencies, their modal damping, and the force deduced at key excitation frequencies. The natural frequencies are fit into physics-based diagrams for useful interpretation. ‘Time-to-reflection” correlation plots and mode versus frequency density diagrams are automatically assembled from surprisingly few sensors. The Phase I effort concludes with a demonstration using an existing compressor rig.