5

WHITE PAPER
A Learning Publication from Full Spectrum Diagnostics

THE VIBRATION
PERIODIC TABLE

A NEW
FLOW CHART
For
ANALYSIS
THE VIBRATION ANALYSIS PERIODIC TABLE
Daniel T. Ambre, Full Spectrum Diagnostics, PLLC

A New Twist on Interpreting Vibration Analysis Faults

Figure 1.0
The Original Concept:

The Periodic Table of the Elements was invented in

1869 by Dmitri Mendeleev. The original table design and can sometimes induce overall structural motions
reflects the groupings of chemical properties, atomic (phase response), each providing clues to the
weights, and element forms (solids, gases, liquids). The underlying machinery fault.
design is elegant and orderly (even if you have forgotten
all aspects of your high school chemistry class). This is The amplitude component tells the analyst that a
where we begin. measurement may be “out-of-family” with groups of
similar machine ”types” or “classes”. Frequencies are
The New Concept: generated in the FFT spectrum, providing patterns that
can be related to the design or function of the machine
Not unlike chemical elements, the world of vibration (rolling element bearings, gear teeth, turbine blades,
analysis is also built on patterns. There are unifying etc.). Sets of frequencies and can indicate normal
commonalities in mechanical systems such as rotating operation or the onset of mechanical faults or defects.
shafts, bearings, blades, gears, and the like. Sources of Phase analysis is a diagnostic tool that allows the
vibration create measureable response amplitudes, analyst to sift through faults that have similar
repeating rates of occurrence (or frequency response), appearance in the spectrum and cannot be distinguish
individually.
Thus far this information should be second hand to the The Harmonic Group
seasoned vibration analyst. However, when the faults
are grouped directionally and according to frequency
content a significant amount of information unfolds in our
one-page table format. Instead of searching for sample
spectra in a book or on a wall chart for something that
looks similar to the measurement spectrum from your
machine, we can now logically define the fault from a
different direction. The result is a useful tool designed to
help the analyst narrow-down the numerous possibilities
when faced with a difficult machinery vibration signature.

Terminology & Groupings

A review of terms is required as we walk through the

structure of the Vibration Analysis Periodic Table.
Figure 3.0
The groupings by column contain the dominant vibration
faults by frequency content. The column headers are
Frequency content that is considered Harmonic will
shown on the full table in Figure 1.0.
include (you guessed it) harmonic or integer multiples of
the 1x RPM rotating speed. As noted above, there can
The Synchronous Group
be a bit of overlap with the synchronous group; however
the harmonic group can include a single harmonic or
dozens of harmonics of the fundamental frequency.

The second column on the table includes faults that

have typically elevated 1x RPM and a single second
harmonic. This group includes Coupling Misalignment
(Offset and Angular), Bent or Bowed Rotors and Cocked
Rolling Element Bearings. The expanded group of faults
is found in columns three & four of the table. These
faults include Gear Meshing harmonics, Blade Passing,
Rotor Bar Passing, and Mechanical Looseness (Types B
and C) signatures.

Sub-Harmonic / Sub-Synchronous

Figure 2.0

The Synchronous Grouping includes faults that generate

a predominant 1x RPM response in the spectrum. There
are many faults that fall into this category including some
faults that may start as a synchronous fault and if left
unchecked may deteriorate into another group.

For our purposes the synchronous faults start with an

elevated 1x RPM response and hold this pattern (save
increasing amplitudes). The Synchronous Group is a
small select group that is narrowly defined in the first
column on the table. This group includes: Unbalance,
Eccentricity, Mechanical Looseness Type A, Gear Tooth
Faults, and Belt Drive Misalignment problems. Figure 4.0

The second column is also representative of The Sub-Harmonic or Sub-Synchronous table grouping
synchronous response, but may many times include an generates frequency content below the 1x RPM
additional harmonic in addition to the 1x RPM peak. synchronous rotor speed or the fundamental order of the
This affect can be related to the severity of the fault and fault. The fault can be an integer fraction of rotating
may change with overall fatigue in the machine; however speed or non-synchronous with respect to this speed.
we will see that some of the other categories will also on The group includes Mechanical Looseness Type B and
occasion overlap into adjacent groupings. C, rotor/stator Rub events, Belt Drive frequencies, Gear
tooth repeat problems (Assembly Phase and Hunting
Tooth), Oil Whirl & Oil Whip instabilities, Flow The Modulation / Sidebands Group
Turbulence / Cavitation problems, Electrical Pole
Passing Frequency, and Rolling Element Bearing Cage
(Train) Frequency.

This grouping includes overlap from Harmonic and Non-

synchronous groups and can include additional
frequency content. However; the analyst should
remember the unique “Sub-Synchronous” aspect of
these faults that can eliminate other potential sources.

The Non-Synchronous Group

Figure 6.0

The Modulation group includes faults that are more

commonly distinguished by their “sideband” sets. Many
rolling element bearing faults tend to generate sidebands
in later failure stages. Electro-erosion in rolling element
bearings will generate “haystacks” of peaks related to
the defect frequencies in the bearing. Barring faults tend
to create sidebands surrounding a paper roll natural
frequency. The center frequency can be related to the
diameters of the rolls in nip, their alignment, or
Figure 5.0 eccentricity ratios.

The Non-Synchronous group overlaps the sub- The Multiple Indication Group
synchronous group somewhat. This grouping of faults
requires that the fault frequency NOT to be a multiple or
whole fraction of the fundamental rotor speed or even a
function of that speed. All of the sub-synchronous faults
in this category are also non-synchronous faults. These
fault frequencies are created from geometric quantities
in bearing design, belt diameters, piping design, or
created from electro-magnetic field theory.

All Rolling Element Bearing faults (including the Cage,

Element Spin and Raceway frequencies) are always
defined as non-synchronous. The geometry in the
design of journal-type bearings create clearances and
eccentricities that ensure the instability point (whirl) is
non-synchronous.

Flow related problems create random energy and broad- Figure 7.0
band frequency responses that are not related to the
rotor speed. Several faults are highlighted with dotted lines and linked
to other areas of the table. These are faults that can be
The AC and DC Motor Electrical faults are added to this described by another category and/or by modulation
group as well as the Natural Frequency fault series. signatures alone. This is the Multiple Indication Group.
Specialty faults such as “barring” or “corrugation”
problems in paper rolls and film production are related to Whenever modulation is involved in the vibration
roll diameters, alignment or structural natural signature, the severity of the problem is typical related to
frequencies. The “fluting” or “electro-erosion” fault is the number of sideband sets found in the frequency
related to the already noted non-synchronous rolling spectrum, or the amount of amplitude pulsation noted in
element bearing signature. the Time Waveform. Either indicator will allow trending
of the deterioration included in the fault with time .
The Directional Response Pattern
The Axial Response directional fault group is an even
A secondary useful pattern in the Vibration Analysis smaller group than the radial faults on the Vibration
Periodic Table can be found in the directional groupings Analysis Periodic Table. This grouping includes only
inherent in the fault. Vibration amplitude response can five (5) truly axial faults and another three (3) that can be
present itself in various directions, but there are predominantly axial based on design (gears) or by fault
preferred directional responses in many fault signatures. severity (bent shaft and overhung rotor unbalance).
A side note here will remind the analyst that
measurements in multiple directions are required to Remember that if we are analyzing measurement
make a directionality assessment. signatures we have already narrowed down the fault
based on frequency content. If the data indicates that
The table is color-coded for the dominant direction of the the remaining possibilities also include a predominantly
vibratory response. It may not be casually apparent, but axial response, the final group is reduced very quickly.
this concept of directional screening is very useful in
reducing the likelihood of potential fault sources. The Axial and/or Radial Group

The Radial Response Group

Figure 10.0

Figure 8.0
This group includes faults that are either axially or
radially inclined. The set defines eighteen (18) potential
The Radial Response Group shown above is a powerful faults. Again, at this point the analyst has already
tool in that out of the 35 basic faults presented on the screened the measurement by frequency response.
table, only one third have a dominant radial preference. Additional knowledge that the fault is NOT purely “radial”
In horizontally mounted machines, the Mechanical or purely “axial” will eliminate several possible fault
Looseness Type A & B signatures will most often induce sources.
response only in the vertical direction. Likewise, rolling
element bearing faults are best detected in the vertical
measurement direction in the vicinity of the bearing load An Effective Screening Tool
zone. The remaining faults in this group can be detected
in either the vertical or horizontal (radial) directions. Hopefully at this juncture the effectiveness of the
Vibration Analysis Periodic Table as a screening tool is
The Axial Response Group becoming obvious. To this point we have used the
frequency and directional response category groupings
to eliminate many potential faults, but note that we have
NOT once looked at an example spectrum on a wall
chart or reference book.

Let’s face it; it’s not likely that our unique machinery
problem is neatly duplicated in a book somewhere. If it
were, with the number of variables involved, it’s unlikely
that we would be able to find it! The hunt and peck
method of analysis is not an efficient use of the analyst’s
time.

Figure 9.0
Additional Table Resources

Well, we are not finished with the Periodic Table just yet.
The reader may note that the table includes additional
information within the colored blocks defining each
vibration problem. The upper left hand corner notes the
frequency content category with a letter: S, H, SS, NS, or
M. The lower left hand corner provides a reference page
number for the Vibration Fault Guide. As we narrow
down the possibilities we can turn to the VFG for
additional information and distinguishing aspects of the
potential machinery fault.

Figure 13.0 Vibration Fault Guide: Oil Whirl Instability

The upper right hand corner includes a symbol for the

appropriate diagnostic test that can be performed to
provide insight to the potential fault.

Figure 14.0 Diagnostic Test Icon References

The first five icons shown above represent the following

diagnostic tests:

Figure 11.0 Vibration Fault Guide: Belt Drive Misalignment Phase Analysis – traditionally used to distinguish faults
with identical frequency response signatures. The chart
includes ten (10) potential faults where a phase analysis
may be appropriate.

Time Waveform Analysis – the Time Waveform is

essential for gear tooth fault problems as the singular
method of detection. It is also used for corroborating
evidence in looseness and alignment problems, as well
as rub events and beat frequency problems.

Orbit Analysis – considered essential in the analysis of

fluid film (journal) bearings to detect instabilities and
loading issues.

Ultrasonic Spectrum Analysis – most commonly used

to detect early rolling element bearing fatigue and
lubrication problems. This tool is helpful in gear train
problems as well.

Impact Natural Frequency Testing – defines structural

natural frequencies, resonance margin, damping and
Figure 12.0 Vibration Fault Guide: Gear Meshing Frequency
mode shapes.
The final symbol in Figure 14.0 is found in the lower right
hand corner of some select faults on the table. The
symbol indicates that there is a formula, calculation, or
table that can provide additional insight into the fault.

Moving Forward

The Vibration Analysis Periodic Table concept has been

in-work for over a year since the publication of this
article. The construction has been peer reviewed in
several venues; however with wider exposure it is likely
that the readers will notice a lacking or limitation that
needs to be addressed. These critiques are welcome.

The long-term vision for the Vibration Analysis Periodic

Table is that it becomes a self-guided computer training
platform where the analyst can drill down into each fault
and experience machinery information, animations, and
case histories at will. The concept is currently being
implemented into all of the Full Spectrum Diagnostics
training courses.

________________________________________

Dan Ambre, P.E. is a Mechanical Engineer and founder

of Full Spectrum Diagnostics, PLLC, a Full Service
Predictive Maintenance Consulting company.

Full Spectrum Diagnostics specializes in Resonance

detection, Experimental Modal Analysis, and Operating
Deflection Shape machinery diagnostics. Full Spectrum
Diagnostics provides Vibration Analysis level I, II, and III
training and certification, as well as training in advanced
diagnostic techniques.

Dan is a Certified Software Training representative for

Vibrant Technology, Inc., the creators of ME’scope VES
software tools. The Full Spectrum Diagnostics ODS &
Modal Analysis training targets the In-Plant Vibration
Analyst. Please visit our web site at www.fullspec.net, or
email us at modalguy@aol.com.