Phase-based spectrum analysis method for identifying weak harmonics

Fault characteristic frequency extraction is an important means for the fault diagnosis of rotating machineries. Traditional signal processing methods commonly use the amplitude information of signals to detect damages. However, when the amplitudes of characteristic frequencies are weak, the recognition effects of traditional methods may be unsatisfactory. Therefore, this paper proposes the phase-based enhanced phase waterfall plot (EPWP) method and frequency equal ratio line (FERL) method for identifying weak harmonics. Taking a cracked rotor as an example, the characteristic frequency detection performances of the EPWP and FERL methods are compared with that of the traditional signal processing methods namely fast Fourier transform, short-time Fourier transform, discrete wavelet transform, continuous wavelet transform, ensemble empirical mode decomposition, and Hilbert–Huang transform. Research results demonstrate that the effects of EPWP and FERL for the recognitions of weak harmonics which are contained in steady signals and transient signals are better than that of the traditional signal processing methods. The accurate identification of weak characteristic frequencies in the vibration signals can provide an important reference for damage detections and improve the diagnostic accuracy.