Experimental diagnosis of multiple faults on a rotor-stator system by fast Fourier transform and wavelet scalogram

This paper presents the recent application of the scalogram of Continuous Wavelet Transform (CWT) as a vibration monitoring and signal processing tool for a rotor dynamic response under parametric excitation. The experimental test data of coupled lateral-torsional vibrations of a rotor-stator system with transverse crack was obtained through a data acquisition set-up interfaced with Rotor-Kit-4 (RK-4). Analysis was executed on rotor deflection, orbit, frequency and time-frequency spectrum of the RK-4 experimental data. The scalograms of CWT were used experimentally to represent the aperiodic occurrence of rub between the rotor-stator and crack features. Variation in 3-D scalogram peaks in the presence of rub and crack were unique and were used to distinguish quasi-periodic motion from other types of motion. An unbalanced cracked rotor gave a higher frequency amplitude response compared to an unbalanced rotor with rub under the same conditions. Irregularities in orbit orientation near sub-harmonic resonances were observed in the test data. Multiple rebounds inside the orbit loop were unique rub indicators. Conspicuous horizontal components of the higher harmonics were observed near the critical speed when a crack existed. CWT established inherent feature patterns that discriminated unbalance, rub and a crack.