Shaft angular misalignment detection using acoustic emission

Shaft angular misalignment (SAM) is a common and crucial problem in rotating machinery. Misalignment can produce several shortcomings such as premature bearing failure, increase in energy consumption, excessive seal lubricant leakage and coupling failure. Vibration analysis has been traditionally used to detect SAM; however, it presents some drawbacks i.e. high influence of machine operational conditions and strong impact of the coupling type and stiffness on vibration spectra. This paper presents an extensive experimental investigation in order to evaluate the possibility of detecting SAM, using acoustic emission (AE) technique. The test rig was operated at under different operational conditions of load and speed in order to evaluate the impact on the AE and vibration signature under normal operating conditions. To the best of the author’s knowledge, this is the first attempt to use AE for the detection of SAM under varying operational conditions. A comparative study of vibration and AE was carried out to demonstrate the potentially better performance of AE. The experimental results show that AE technique can be used as a reliable technique for SAM detection, providing enhancements over vibration analysis.     

Diagnosis of continuous rotor-stator rubbing in large scale turbine units using acoustic emissions

Continuous rubbing between the shaft and surrounding seals or end-glands of electricity generating turbine units can escalate into very severe vibration and costly rotor damage. Therefore such rotor-stator contacts require early diagnosis so as to minimize the financial consequences of any unplanned shutdowns. Acoustic emissions (AEs) or stress wave monitoring at the bearings has been identified as a sensitive non-destructive monitoring technique for such rub conditions [Electr. Eng. Jpn. 110(2) (1990); IEEE Proc. 6 (2000) 79; Hall and Mba, 14th International Congress on Condition Monitoring and Diagnostic Engineering Management (COMADEM’2001), Manchester, UK, 2001, p. 21]. However, experimental results from real turbines have been scarce. This paper presents a diagnosis of continuous rotor-stator rubbing in an operational 500 MW turbine unit via high frequency AE measurement within a 100 KHz-1 MHz ultrasonic band. As detailed by Sato [Electr. Eng. Jpn. 110(2) (1990)] and reported in this paper the onset of a continuous rub contact at a seal/gland was revealed by a sinusoidal modulation within the raw ‘rf’ AE response. By synchronous measurement at adjacent bearings, an estimation of the location of the rub was calculated using the phase delay between the adjacent AE modulations. Importantly, the AE diagnosis was closely corroborated by post-inspection of the turbine rotor.     

基于分布式超声无损检测方法的零件内部缺陷检测

超声检测广泛应用于工业检测,比如超声相控阵检测法和超声A扫应用于零件内部缺陷检测。然而,这些方法可以检测出缺陷位置却很难精确地检测缺陷尺寸,缺陷定量成了急需解决并且很有意义的问题。本文提出了一种分布式超声无损检测方法,将超声探头均匀布置在检测表面,每一个超声探头可以同时发射和接收超声信号,通过对接收到的信号进行处理来重构缺陷轮廓。基于分布式超声无损检测方法,重构零件的人造缺陷并建立相应的声学仿真模型。通过多项式拟合法和聚类法分别处理实验和仿真所获得的数据并重构缺陷轮廓。实验结果和仿真结果显示重构的椭圆形缺陷和正方形缺陷具有一定的精度。结果表明分布式超声无损检测方法有潜在的应用价值和理论意义。     

Characteristics of acoustic emissions during nucleation of superheated droplets

Superheated droplet nucleation and subsequent bubble oscillation produces an acoustic pressure pulse that contains valuable information about the nucleation process. Spectral analysis of the pressure pulse indicates excitation of different modes of bubble oscillations in the nucleation process. In the present study it is observed that gamma induced droplet nucleation excites higher modal oscillations and also emits higher intensity acoustic emission compared to that of spontaneous nucleations.     

Elastic properties of composites: periodical homogenisation technique and experimental comparison using acoustic microscopy and resonant ultrasonic spectroscopy

The macroscopic elastic properties of two composites (Duralumin/air and Duralumin/tungsten carbide (WC)) have been calculated using periodical homogenisation methods and the elastic properties of each phase (measured by high frequency acoustic microscopy). In order to check the validity of such an approach, acoustical resonant spectroscopy has also been applied. Thanks to the comparison between the resonant frequencies predicted and measured, two major conclusions have been obtained: the homogenisation method is very accurate for the composite Duralumin/air, but not for the Duralumin/WC sample: the experimental results are not in very good agreement with the simulation. This result can be then explained by the major role of interfacial state between Duralumin and tungsten carbide.     

Strategies for reliable automatic onset time picking of acoustic emissions and of ultrasound signals in concrete

Determining the onset of transient signals like seismograms, acoustic emissions or ultrasound signals is very time consuming if the onset is picked manually. Therefore, different approaches exist, especially in seismology. The concepts of the most popular approaches are summarized. An own approach adapted to ultrasound signals and acoustic emissions, based on the Akaike Information Criterion (AIC), is presented. The AIC-picker is compared to an automatic onset detection algorithm based on the Hinkley criterion and also adapted to acoustic emissions. Manual picks performed by an analyst are used as reference values. Both automatic onset detection algorithms are applied to ultrasound signals which are used to monitor the setting and hardening of concrete. They are also applied to acoustic emissions recorded during a pull-out test. The AIC-picker produces sufficient reliable results for ultrasound signals where the deviation from the manual picks varies between 2% and 4%. Concerning acoustic emissions, only 10% of the events result in a mislocation vector greater than 5mm. It can be shown that our AIC-picker is a reliable tool for automatic onset detection for ultrasound signals and acoustic emissions of varying signal to noise ratio.     

浅层地下物体的高分辨声波探测

本文对地下物体的声波探测进行了初步研究，分析了探测分辨率与声波频率的关系，得出了黄土介质中声波探测的分辨极限，通过对实际目标的探测表明，该方法具有一定的实用性。     

SJTU-1型医用超声诊断设备声输出测量系统的研制

本系统地研究了医用超声诊断设各声输出公布要求的国家标准GB16846—1997(idt.IEC61157—1992)中规定的主要指标的定义和测量方法，给出了相关的计算公式。介绍了为实施国标而研制的专用测量设备SJTU-1型医用超声设备声输出测量系统的工作原理、系统构成和技术性能。     

复频聚焦超声换能器水中焦区商场特性的研究

本文对新研制的一种复频聚焦超声换能器的辐射声场进行了实验研究,测定了辐射压在轴向上的分布曲线,进而确定了焦区位置,这与理论所得结果符合较好,测定了辐射声压在焦平面上的分布曲线,并对焦区声场进行了定位,最后对换能器在水中焦区辐射声的频谱进行了研究,不仅观测到了两个源波,而且还观测到了和频波,差频波以及倍频波,证实了声散射声效应的存在。     

炉内管道泄漏声检测与定位系统的研究现状

电站锅炉管道泄漏的声检测与定位系统,已经越来越广泛地应用于电站锅炉。该系统主要利用声学技术检测炉内管道的泄漏状态,并利用多传声器定位机理对泄漏点进行定位,有效地减少了由管道泄漏引起的非计划停炉,这对电站锅炉来说意义尤为重要。本文分析了炉内管道泄漏声检测与定位系统的关键技术,介绍了该系统的发展概况及应用现状,并提出了改进方向。     

自来水铸铁管道泄漏声信号频率特征研究

针对基于声发射技术的自来水管网泄漏检测定位方法，研究因泄漏而形成的声信号频率分布及不同泄漏量对频率分布的影响。实际泄漏检测时，通常采用互相关法估计泄漏信号到达不同传感器间的时间延迟实现漏点定位，因此，借助互相关分析法研究了管道的不同口径及泄漏信号传播距离对泄漏信号频率分布的影响。同时，泄漏声信号的传播不可避免要经过管道间的接口，因此分析了两种管道接口对信号频率成分的影响。进而为设计合理的管道泄漏检测过程提供依据，并为泄漏声信号形成及多种因素对泄漏声信号特征产生影响的机制研究奠定基础。     

水下目标前向声散射探测的干涉声场畸变量分析与应用

前向声散射探测中的信直比SDR;能衡量目标前向散射波与直达波的相对大小,但未考虑两种波的干涉叠加。前向散射波与直达波实际上是干涉在一起的且很难分离,因而信直比在目标探测分析中难以直接应用。以信直比为基础并计入前向散射波与直达波的干涉效果,引入了新的参量——干涉声场畸变量ΔFTL——并给出了理论计算公式。与SDR;相比,ΔFTL可以直接从声场数据中得到,在一定程度上具有不依赖先验信息的优势。以该公式为基础并结合千岛湖缩比目标探测试验数据,(1)通过估算几何扩展损失系数发现试验中的声波为球面波,结果与依据实测水文参数的射线声场模型仿真结果相符;(2)定量地证实了ΔFTL与目标穿越位置的对应关系,同时也证明了ΔFTL理论计算公式的有效性;(3)建立了一种新的直达波抑制效果评估方案,并完成了对自适应直达波抑制方法的效能评估。目标透声和航行姿态扰动对试验结果的影响可以忽略。分析结果表明:ΔFTL能够有效代替SDR,为开展前向声散射探测性能分析或直达波抑制效果评估提供理论参考。     

直升机声测设备探测距离估计方法

直升机声测设备用于探测低空飞行的直升机,探测距离是其关键性能。为了精确测定探测距离,可以运用探测结果与机载数据综合分析的方法。此种方法需要较多人员和其它设备,包括机载设备,在设备研制的初期较繁琐。本文提出了一种简便的直升机声测设备探测距离估计方法,此方法不需要使用机载设备,对直升机飞行基本无约束,通过对大量实测数据处理,针对某直升机声测设备该方法的平均误差在7%以内。     

Nonlinear dynamics and acoustic emissions of interacting cavitation bubbles in viscoelastic tissues

The cavitation-mediated bioeffects are primarily associated with the dynamic behaviors of bubbles in viscoelastic tissues, which involves complex interactions of cavitation bubbles with surrounding bubbles and tissues. The radial and translational motions, as well as the resultant acoustic emissions of two interacting cavitation bubbles in viscoelastic tissues were numerically investigated. Due to the bubble–bubble interactions, a remarkable suppression effect on the small bubble, whereas a slight enhancement effect on the large one were observed within the acoustic exposure parameters and the initial radii of the bubbles examined in this paper. Moreover, as the initial distance between bubbles increases, the strong suppression effect is reduced gradually and it could effectively enhance the nonlinear dynamics of bubbles, exactly as the bifurcation diagrams exhibit a similar mode of successive period doubling to chaos. Correspondingly, the resultant acoustic emissions present a progressive evolution of harmonics, subharmonics, ultraharmonics and broadband components in the frequency spectra. In addition, with the elasticity and/or viscosity of the surrounding medium increasing, both the nonlinear dynamics and translational motions of bubbles were reduced prominently. This study provides a comprehensive insight into the nonlinear behaviors and acoustic emissions of two interacting cavitation bubbles in viscoelastic media, it may contribute to optimizing and monitoring the cavitation-mediated biomedical applications.     

An analysis of the simulated acoustic emission sources with different propagation distances,types and depths for rail defect detection

Acoustic Emission (AE) technique is an effective nondestructive detecting method, and has a promising application for rail defect detection. So far, little attention has been paid to propagation distances, types, and depths of AE sources, which are important for rail defect detection accurately. This paper presents an experimental study on the simulated AE sources with different propagation distances, types and depths for rail defect detection. Three simulated AE sources with different frequencies are seeded on the cross section of rail, and the depths of AE sources are changed in the vertical direction. After receiving AE signals, wavelet transform and Rayleigh–Lamb equations are utilized to extract time–frequency features and modes. Based on the wavelet transform with corresponding group-velocity curves, the influences of different propagation distances, the features of different source types and the rules of different source depths are examined. It is concluded that the features of AE sources with different propagation distances, types and depths can be obtained by AE technique for rail defect detection. It is very useful to analyze and detect defects in rail defect detection.     

Low speed bearing fault diagnosis using acoustic emission sensors

In this paper, a new methodology for low speed bearing fault diagnosis is presented. This acoustic emission (AE) based technique starts with a heterodyne frequency reduction approach that samples AE signals at a rate comparable to vibration centered methodologies. Then, the sampled AE signal is time synchronously resampled to account for possible fluctuations in shaft speed and bearing slippage. The resampling approach is able to segment the AE signal according to shaft crossing times such that an even number of data points are available to compute a single spectral average which is used to extract features and evaluate numerous condition indicators (CIs) for bearing fault diagnosis. Unlike existing averaging based noise reduction approaches that require the computation of multiple averages for each bearing fault type, the presented approach computes only one average for all bearing fault types. The presented technique is validated using the AE signals of seeded fault steel bearings on a bearing test rig. The results in this paper have shown that the low sampled AE signals in combination with the presented approach can be utilized to effectively extract condition indicators to diagnose all four bearing fault types at multiple low shaft speeds below 10 Hz.     

Investigation on ultrasonic volume effects: Stress superposition,acoustic softening and dynamic impact

Conventional high power ultrasonic vibration has been widely used to improve manufacturing processes like surface treatment and metal forming. Ultrasonic vibration affects material properties, leading to a flow stress reduction, which is called ultrasonic volume effect. The volume effect contains multi-mechanisms such as stress superposition due to oscillatory stress, acoustic softening by easier dislocation motion and dynamic impact leading to extra surface plastic deformation. However, most researches ignored the stress superposition for the convenience of measurement, and few studies considered ultrasonic dynamic impact since the relatively low ultrasonic energy in macro scale. The purpose of this study is to investigate the characteristics and mechanisms of different ultrasonic volume effects in micro-forming. A 60 kHz longitudinal ultrasonic-assisted compression test system was developed and a series of ultrasonic-assisted compression tests at different amplitudes on commercially pure aluminum A1100 in micro-scale were carried out combining the surface analysis by SEM, EDX and micro-hardness test. Three different ultrasonic volume effects, stress superposition, acoustic softening and dynamic impact, were confirmed in the ultrasonic-assisted compression tests. In order to quantitatively predict stress superposition, a hybrid model for stress superposition is developed considering the elastic deformation of experimental apparatus in practice, the evolution of the modeling results fitted well with the experimental results. With low ultrasonic amplitude, stress superposition and acoustic softening occurred because vibrated punch contacted with the specimen all the time during compression. However, with higher amplitude, due to the extra surface plastic deformation by larger ultrasonic energy, forming stress was further reduced by the ultrasonic dynamic impact. A possible method to distinguish the effects of dynamic impact and acoustic softening is to analyze the waveform of the oscillatory stress in the process. In the case of ultrasonic dynamic impact effect, a higher amount of oxidation was observed on the specimen surface, which could be the result of local heating by surface plastic deformation and surface friction when the vibrated punch detached from the specimen. The findings of this study provide an instructive understanding of the underlying mechanisms of volume effects in ultrasonic-assisted micro-forming.     

混凝土材料声发射信号的频率特征及其与强度参量的相关性试验研究

混凝土材料声发射信号频率特征与强度指标的关系是混凝土材料声发射检测技术的重要基础。通过实验,对声发射信号频率特征与混凝土强度指标的相关关系进行了探讨。研究结果表明,在较低的应力水平上,不同强度等级混凝土声发射信号大都是低频信号。而在较高应力水平时,随着强度等级的增加,声发射信号的优势频率则逐渐升高。     

声波远探测测井与地震缝洞精细评价技术研究*

地震勘探探测范围广、空间尺度大,数据采集、处理、解释体系完善,资料运用率高,但纵向分辨率低。声波远探测可实现井周数十米范围内的异常体探测,克服了常规测井方法探测深度浅的局限,具有很高的纵向、周向、径向分辨率,但偶极横波远探测具有180°方位不确定性,径向探测范围不及地震勘探。本研究将两者优势结合,通过对缝洞型地质异常体远探测和地震响应特征进行综合分析,约束远探测方位解释结果,精细刻画地质异常体形态及发育情况,完善远探测测井的横向延伸信息,有效提高远探测解释的精准度,最终形成声波远探测测井与地震一体化缝洞综合评价技术,提升缝洞油气藏钻遇率和开发效率。在塔河等缝洞发育地区进行应用,实现多尺度、全方位和高精度的地质异常体描述与解释,为解决油气勘探过程中由于地震分辨率不足造成的脱靶等现象提供了新的思路。     

Design, simulation and structural optimization of a longitudinal acoustic resonator for trace gas detection using laser photoacoustic spectroscopy (LPAS)

The design of the acoustic resonator is critical for the optimization of the sensitivity of laser photoacoustic spectroscopy (LPAS) in trace gas detection applications. In this paper, an LC circuit model is used for the simulation of a 1D acoustic resonator. This acoustic resonator is designed for CO photoacoustic spectroscopy. The effects of the structural parameters, quality factor and resonant frequency on the performance of the device are theoretically analyzed. The role of the buffer volume as an acoustic filter is investigated and optimized dimensions of the buffer volume, to achieve minimum noise transmission coefficient, are calculated. The effects of the ambient temperature, variety of pressure and gas flow velocity on the resonant frequency of photoacoustic resonator and PA signal are simulated. The temperature dependence of the microphone sensitivity is also introduced.