Low-bit rate vibration signals

Abstract

        This research involves the collection of vibration signals for machinery health monitoring. This work is part of an effort to reduce the size of data files for recording vibrations. The purpose of this study was to determine the lowest numerical resolution of each of the data samples to be recorded without losing information which is useful to assess the conditions of the machine on hand. Vibration signals from a faulty gear box were used. Information needed was the relative energy levels of vibration at various frequencies in the signal which indicates abnormalities in the gear box. The results of the study indicated that even lowering the resolution of the data from 16 bits to 3 bits, the useful information in the signal can still be maintained.