Phase Measurement & Transducer Effect

In our previous newsletters, we discussed the collection and analysis of

phase measurements using a displacement probe. What would happen if we
did not use a displacement probe to collect our phase measurements? Would
the phase reading be affected? Yes it would.
Thus far we have used a displacement probe. As the high spot passed the displacement probe the sensor
indicated the increase in vibration level. In the case of an out-of-balance shaft, the vibration pattern would be
sinusoidal. And if the high spot happened to be in-line with the tachometer reference (our reflective tape), the
phase reading would be zero degrees.

We learned earlier that the point of maximum displacement occurs at a different point in the cycle to the
maximum acceleration and velocity:

But now we will replace our displacement probe with a velocimeter. For the moment we will keep it simple and
assume that the sensor purely measures the instantaneous velocity of the vibration and does not introduce any
phase shifts.

We do see a change in the reading. It now reads -90 degrees. The vibration waveform leads the reference
tachometer signal by 90 degrees. We learned in the fundamentals that there is a phase relationship between
displacement, velocity and acceleration. Velocity leads displacement by 90 degrees, so we will see that
change in our reading.

If we use a velocity sensor to measure vibration we could easily think that the heavy spot leads the reference
spot by 90. In this graphic you can see the actual position of the heavy spot (in-line with the reflective tape)
and the apparent position of the high spot. We see this because at that point in the rotation of the shaft the
velocity is at its greatest.

What if we now used an accelerometer? The phase is shifted by a further 90 degrees. It now reads -180
degrees. Acceleration leads displacement by 180 degrees.

If we use an accelerometer to measure vibration we could easily think that the heavy spot is on the opposite
side of the shaft to the phase reference (it leads by 180). In this graphic you can see the actual position of the
heavy spot (in-line with the reflective tape) and the apparent position of the high spot. We see this because at
that point in the rotation of the shaft the acceleration is at its greatest.

So, the vibration transducer used does affect the phase reading. But do we care? If we are performing
vibration analysis or we are studying resonances, and all we are trying to understand is how one part of the
machine is changing in relation to another part of the machine, then we actually do not care. Well learn more

about this later, but in brief, we dont care because all of these phase shifts do not change as long as the
speed of the machine and the instrumentation do not change. We are not interested in absolute phase, just
relative phase.
However, if we are performing machine balancing then we do care about the sensor; for two reasons. The first
reason, which is a little off the topic, relates to sensitivity. A displacement probe measures the amount of
displacement, which may be quite small. An accelerometer measures the vibration which is proportional to
force (remember Force = mass x acceleration).
The more relevant reason right now relates to the selection of the position of the trial weight. You see, if we
were to take a vibration reading (the original run) and get a phase reading of 30 degrees, then we could
potentially use that information to select the appropriate position for the balance correction weight. If the angle
was 30 degrees (and we are using a displacement (proximity) probe), then we might place the correction
weight opposite that point; at 210 degrees. If we used a velocity probe then we have to adjust the reading by
90 degrees first. And if we used an accelerometer then we either have to adjust the reading by 180. Is that
correct?
Unfortunately, it is not necessarily correct. We have made an assumption about our readings which is not
necessarily valid. We assumed that the reading from the displacement probe of the high spot is the same as
the heavy spot. When we are balancing a rotor we are trying to counteract the effect of the heavy spot, not
the high spot. Unfortunately, they may not be the same.

Try our Relative Phase Simulator

In this simulator you can see that as the mass moves around with the shaft, it creates a vibration. We
can understand this vibration or quantify it in three different ways. We can talk about how far the shaft
moves up or down or side to side under the influence of the mass (displacement). We can talk about
fast it is moving (velocity) or we can talk about how fast it is speeding up or slowing down (acceleration).
> LAUNCH

In the next issue of VIBRATION MATTERS

There are a number of ways that you can put phase data to use. There are basically three main vibration
applications: balancing, structural resonance analysis, and fault diagnosis. In our next issue of Vibration
Matters we will discuss using phase for machine fault diagnosis.

Keep Learning!