Rotor Blades Diagnosis Method Based on Differences in Phase Shifts

Abstract

In this work, an innovative diagnosis method of rotor blades is presented. A measurement signal of blade tip displacement is divided into two observation zones, in which two peaks of an additional template signal are introduced. Cross-correlation and power spectral density functions of the measurement and template signals in these two distinct zones are calculated. Next, the phase shift between the two cross-correlation functions is obtained by calculating the ratio of the two power spectral density functions. The changes in parameters of an analytical description of this phase shift are used to determine a distinct and easy-to-analyze image of the technical condition of the tested blade. A graphical portrait indicating the technical condition of all blades in the annulus is developed. Although not directly measured, environmental signals (e.g., external disturbances and sensor’s noise) affecting the diagnostic process are included in the method. It is demonstrated that, by using the proposed signal processing technique, a negative influence of these disturbances is eliminated and the reliability of the machine technical condition indications is improved. The approach is demonstrated using experimental results of turbine engine blade displacements. High effectiveness of the method and measurement equipment has been confirmed in a wide range of analyzed tip-timing results obtained in different periods of the measurement process.