Fault detection using transient machine signals

This paper describes the development and testing of a strategy for vibration-based online detection of faults in a particular class of machinery. This machinery is defined by two basic characteristics that preclude it from the application of standard online condition monitoring systems. The first characteristic is the absence of historical fault data. The second characteristic is that the machine is in a constant state of transient operation. An example of such a machine is the swing machinery of an electromechanical excavator. The monitoring strategy presented here employs an anomaly detection scheme together with various methods of signal processing and feature extraction. Experiments are carried out using a laboratory apparatus to show the how various configurations of the system are able to detect different types of faults. The results indicate that this approach is effective and merits further investigation.