Spectrum & Time Analysis Procedures
“How to Analyze Data”
By
Kevin R. Guy
Senior Field Analyst
Delaware Analysis Services, Inc.
P.O. Box 365
Francisco, Indiana 47649
(krguy@delawareanalysis.com)
Abstract: Individuals assigned to vibration analysis programs struggle with analyzing collected vibration data for various reasons including, training and lack of confidence. The problem is not that people don’t know how to analyze data, but, rather they do not have a plan or procedure on how to systematically go about analyzing the data. In many cases, the vibration analyst should rule out what is not the problem, instead of looking for what is the problem. This paper will present a “plan of attack” so that an individual will have some guidance on what to look for when analyzing vibration data. Following the plan set forth in this paper will give the inexperienced vibration analyst a procedure on how they should proceed when analyzing vibration data.
Key Words: Amplitude, Frequency, Time, Spectrum, Harmonic Vibration, Periodic Vibration; Impulsive Vibration, Pulsating, Random Vibration, Sidebands, Synchronous, Non Synchronous, Subsynchronous, Electrical, Balance, Alignment, Looseness, Resonance, Vane Pass, Blade Pass, Gearmesh
Introduction: Analyzing data appears to be a daunting task. Many do not have experience examining at vibration data. The key is to go about the task with a plan to assist with the analysis. While each analyst develops their own plan of how they analyze data, each analyst’s plan contains many of the same procedures. Many inexperienced analysts only want to look at data in the spectrum
