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GLOSSARY

Absolute fault limit

The maximum recommended level of overall


vibration accepted in machinery.

Acceleration

The rate of change of velocity with respect to


time.

Accelerometers

Use a piezoelectric crystal to convert mechanical energy into electrical signals.

Amplitude

The maximum absolute value attained by the


disturbance of a wave or by any quantity.

Apex

The pitch angle is the sum of the pitch lines


extended, which meet at a point.

Balance

All forces generated by or acting on the rotating


element of a machine-train are in a state of equilibrium.

Ball spin frequency (BSF)

The spinning motion of the balls or rollers


within a bearing.

Ball-pass inner-race (BPFI)

The ballholler rotating speed relative to the


inner race.

Ball-pass outer-race (BPFO)

The relative speed between the balls or rollers in


a rolling-element bearing and the outer race.

Broadband

A band with a wide range of frequencies.

Broadband energy

Provides a gross approximation of machines


condition and its relative rate of degradation.

Broadband trending

Vibration analysis technique that plots the


change in the overall or broadband vibration of a
machine-train.

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Glossary

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Centrifugal pump

A machine for moving a liquid, such as water,


by accelerating it radially outward in an impeller to a surrounding volute casing.

Chatter

An irregular alternating motion of the parts of a


relief valve due to the application of pressure
where contact is made between the valve disk
and the seat.

Coastdown

This occurs when the machines driver is turned


off and the suspect frequency is recorded as the
speed decreases.

Common shaft

The individual shafts that exist in all machinetrains.

Displacement

The change in distance or position of an object


relative to a reference point; the actual distance,
off-centerline, of a rotating shaft as compared to
a stationary reference, usually the machine
housing.

Dynamic resonance

When the natural frequency of a rotating or


dynamic structure, such as the rotor assembly in
a fan, is energized, the rotating element will resonate.

Fast Fourier transform (FFT)

Converts a time-domain plot into its unique frequency components using a mathematical process.

First mode

The slightly eccentric rotation (off-center) of a


shaft will generate a low-level frequency component that coincides with the rotating speed of
the shaft.

Fourth mode

A shaft can flex or deform into mode shapes that


will generate running-speed harmonics.

Frequency

The number of cycles completed by a periodic


quantity in a unit time.

Frequency domain

A plane on which signal strength can be represented graphically as a function of frequency,


instead of a function of time.

Fundamental or first critical speed

The lowest critical speed.

Fundamental train frequency

Generated by the precession of the cage as it


rotates around the bearing races.

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Vibration Fundamentals

Gear mesh

Frequency is equal to the number of gear teeth


times the running speed of the shaft.

Gravity

The gravitational attraction at the surface of a


planet or other celestial body.

Harmonic motion

A periodic motion that is a sinusoidal function


of time, that is, motion along a line given by
equation x = a cos(kt + 0), where t is the time
parameter, and a, k, and 0 are constants.

Harmonics

A sinusoidal component of a periodic wave,


having a frequency that is an integral multiple of
the fundamental frequency. Also known as harmonic component.

Helical gears

Gear wheels running on parallel axes, with teeth


twisted oblique to the gear axis.

Herringbone gears

The equivalent of two helical gears of opposite


hand placed side by side.

Hertz

Unit of frequency; a periodic oscillation has a


frequency of n hertz if in 1 second it goes
through n cycles.

Hydrodynamic

The study of the motion of a fluid and of the


interactions of the fluid with its boundaries,
especially in the incompressible inviscid case.

Imbalance

Any change in the state of equilibrium.

Laminar

Arranged in thin layers. Pertaining to viscous


streamline flow without turbulence.

Low frequency cutoff

A frequency below which the gain of a system


or device decreases rapidly.

Machine-train

A total machine including the driver, drive train,


and machine.

Narrowband

The total energy within a user-selected range, or


windows. Referring to a bandwith of 300 hertz
or less.

Narrowband trending

Monitors the total energy for a specific bandwidth of vibration frequencies.

Natural frequency

The natural frequency of free vibration of a system. The frequency at which an undamped system with a single degree of freedom will
oscillate upon momentary displacement from its
rest position.

Glossary

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Node points

Where the shaft flexes into a double bend that


crosses its true centerline.

Oil whip

Occurs when the clearance between the rotating


shaft and sleeve bearing is allowed to close to a
point approaching actual metal-to-metal contact.
See also Oil whirl.

Oil whirl

An unstable free vibration whereby a fluid-film


bearing has insufficient unit loading. The shaft
centerline dynamic motion is usually circular in
the direction of rotation. Oil whirl occurs at the
oil flow velocity within the bearing, usually 40
to 49% of the shaft speed. Oil whip occurs when
the whirl frequency coincides with (and
becomes locked to) a shaft resonant frequency.
(Oil whirl and whip can occur in any case where
a fluid is between two cylindrical surfaces.)

Peak-to-peak

Amplitude of an alternating quantity measured


from positive peak to negative peak.

Rate

The amount of change of some quantity during a


time interval divided by the length of the time
interval.

Rathbone chart

Provides levels of vibration severity that range


from extremely smooth, best possible operating
condition, to an absolute fault limit, or the maximum level where a machine can operate.

Resonance

A vibration of large amplitude in a mechanical


system caused by a small periodic stimulus of
the same or nearly the same period as the natural
vibration period of the system.

Ringing

Method for exciting natural frequencies is to


strike or excite a machine or structure with a
timber or hammer.

Root-cause failure

Based on machine-train operation and how its


dynamics affect the vibration spectrum.

Rotational frequencies

Related to the motion of the rolling elements,


cage, and rings or races.

Running speed

The true rotational speed of the shaft or shafts.

Run-up

The machines driver is turned on and records


the amplitude and phase as the machine accelerates from dead-stop to full speed.

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Vibration Fundamentals

Sawtooth (waveform)

A waveform characterized by a slow rise time


and a sharp fall, resembling a tooth of a saw.

Second mode

As the shaft rotates, the double bend shape will


create two high spots as it passes the vibration
transducer.

Signature

The characteristic pattern of target as displayed


by detection and classification equipment.

Signature (FFT)

Usually applied to the vibration frequency spectrum unique to a particular machine or machine
component, system, or subsystem at a specific
location and point of time.

Static

A hissing, crackling, or other sudden sharp


sound that tends to interfere with the reception,
utilization, or enjoyment of desired signals or
sounds. Without motion or change.

Static resonance

If the natural frequency of a stationary or nondynamic structure, such as a casing, bearing


pedestal, piping or other structure, is energized,
the structure will resonate.

Synchronous

In step or in phase, as applied to two or more


circuits, devices, or machines.

Third mode

A shaft can flex or deform into mode shapes that


will generate running-speed harmonics.

Velocity

The time rate of change of position of a body; it


is a vector quantity having direction as well as
magnitude.

Vibration

A continuing periodic change in a displacement


with respect to a fixed reference. In its general
sense is a periodic motion. The motion will
repeat itself in all its particulars after a certain
interval of time.

Worm gears

Used for nonintersecting shafts at 90 degrees.

X-axis

A horizontal axis in a system of rectangular


coordinates.

Y-axis

A vertical axis in a system of rectangular coordinates.

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