Advanced Multi-source Digital Signal Processing and Analysis for Characterization of Vibrations in Turbo-machinery Blades

A vision and first steps towards a tightly integrated easy-to-use software system capable of experimental and analytical characterization of vibrations in modern turbo-machinery bladed rotors are presented in this proposal. A number of technologies needed to develop such a system already exist in one form or another but are generally disjointed and therefore, are cumbersome to use and require weeks to months of data processing time to analyze and generate meaningful results from rotor-spin data sets. This Phase I proposal will primarily focus on developing an architecture of such a system including definition of inter-system interface requirements, data storage file formats and size requirements, integration of analytical models with a variety of NSMS sensor technologies including eddy-current and optical sensors. The objective will be to define a system architecture that will be “sensor neutral” and therefore, will be able to work with future NSMS sensors. It is proposed to interface the commercial NSMS tip-timing technologies already developed by Hood Technology Corporation with the commercial bladed-disk modeling technologies offered by Impact Technologies through its BladePro software. Both the data acquisition and analysis capabilities will maximize the use of COTS hardware and software. A demonstration of a rudimentary system using the “spin-pit-in-a-box” hardware is contemplated.