Recurrence plot entropy for machine defect severity assessment

This paper presents a nonlinear time series analysis technique for evaluating machine defect severity, based on the Recurrence Plot (RP) entropy. The RP entropy is calculated from the probability distribution of the diagonal line length in the recurrence plot, which graphically depicts a system's dynamics and provides a global picture of the autocorrelation in a time series over all available time-scales. Results of experimental studies conducted on a spindle-bearing test bed have demonstrated that, as the working condition of the bearing deteriorates due to the initiation and/or progression of structural damages, the frequency information contained in the vibration signal becomes increasingly complex, leading to the increase of the RP entropy. As a result, RP entropy can serve as an effective indicator for defect severity assessment of rolling bearings.