THEORY: Vibration Analysis

By Mark Lester

Aircraft Vibration Analysis

This section discusses making vibration measurements in aircraft. If you wish to

have success in Vibration Analysis, you must take the time to understand how to
collect measurements correctly. Making good, consistent measurements is the
single must important step in good vibration analysis.

Vibration basics

To begin a discussion of vibration analysis, it is important to understand that the

location of a vibrating body's surface varies with time. This motion of the body's
surface is called a vibration or oscillation. The swinging of a pendulum and the
motion of a plucked guitar string are typical examples of vibration. The theory of
vibration deals with the study of oscillatory motions of bodies and the forces
associated with them.

A vibratory system must, in general, include a means for storing potential energy
(spring or elasticity), a means for storing kinetic energy (mass or inertia), and a
means by which energy is gradually lost (damping or resistance).

Vibration measurement

A vibration transducer (sensor) is attached (or held by hand) to the vibrating

surface during vibration measurement. The vibration sensor converts this
mechanical motion into an electrical signal that corresponds to the body's motion
in space. The vibration analyzer is then used to sample this electrical signal and
make various calculations based on the electrical signal's properties.

Analysis modes

The signal values resulting from these calculations may be displayed in a number
of different ways. Each different way of displaying the resulting data signal is
called an Analysis Mode.

In some Analysis Modes, such as the Waveform Analysis Mode, signals are
displayed in Time Domain. Time Domain readings are generally used to analyze
impulsive or transient vibration signals.

Other modes such as the Spectrum Analysis Mode, utilize a display in the
Frequency Domain. Frequency Domain readings are generally used to analyze
repetitive signals such as those generated by rotating machinery. The entire
signal or just a portion of it may be displayed depending on the analyzer settings
chosen by the user.

Sometimes the user will choose to use an Analysis Mode such as the Overall
Analysis Mode that computes a spectrum analysis and then combines the entire
signal or portions of it into a single convenient numeric value.

A number of other analysis types are available to perform specialized signal

analysis such as True RMS, True Peak and DC Scan Analysis Modes.