The goal of this work is to establish a condition monitoring regimen capable of diagnosing the depth and location of a transverse fatigue crack in a rotordynamic system. The success of an on-line crack diagnosis regimen hinges on the accuracy of the crack model used. The model should account for the depth of the crack and the localization of the crack along the shaft. Negating the influence of crack location on system response ignores a crucial component of real cracks. Two gaping crack models are presented; the first simulates a finite-width manufactured notch, while the second models an open fatigue crack. An overhung rotordynamic system is modeled, imitating an available rotordynamic test rig. Four degree-of-freedom equations of motion for both crack models are presented and discussed, along with corresponding transfer matrix techniques. Free and forced response analyses are performed, with emphasis placed on results applicable to condition monitoring. It is demonstrated that two identifiers are necessary to diagnose the crack parameters: the 2X resonance frequency and the magnitude of the 2X component of the rotor angular response at resonance. First, a contour plot of the 2X resonant shaft speed versus crack depth and location is generated. The magnitude of the 2X component of the rotor’s angular response along the desired contour is obtained, narrowing the possible pairs of crack location/depth to either one or two possibilities. Practical aspects of the diagnosis procedure are then discussed.
Empirical Expressions of Surface Fatigue Crack Shape
