Effects of the shaft normal modes on the model-based identification of unbalances in rotating machines

Model-based methods can be applied to identify the most likely faults that cause the experimental response of a rotating machine. Sometimes, the objective function, to be minimized in the fault identification method, shows multiple sufficiently low values that are associated with different sets of the equivalent excitations by means of which the fault can be modeled. In these cases, the knowledge of the contribution of each normal mode of interest to the vibration predicted at each measurement point can provide useful information to identify the actual fault. In this paper, the capabilities of an original diagnostic strategy that combines the use of common fault identification methods with innovative techniques based on a modal representation of the dynamic behavior of rotating machines is shown. This investigation approach has been successfully validated by means of the analysis of the abnormal vibrations of a large power unit.