Recent Advances in Vibration Signal Processing Techniques for Gear Fault Detection-A Review

This paper provides a review of the literature, progress and changes over the years on fault detection of gears using vibration signal processing techniques. Analysis of vibration signals generated by gear in mesh has shown its usefulness in industrial gearbox condition monitoring. Vibration measurement provides a very efficient way of monitoring the dynamic conditions of a machine such as gearbox. Various vibration analysis methods have been proposed and applied to gear fault detection. Most of the traditional signal analysis techniques are based on the stationary assumption. Such techniques can only provide analyses in terms of the statistical average in the time or frequency domain, but can not reveal the local features in both time and frequency domains simultaneously. Frequency/quefrency analysis, time/statistical analysis, time-frequency analysis and cyclostationarity analysis are reviewed in regard for stationary and nonstationary operation. The use of vibration signal processing detection techniques is classified and discussed. The capability of each technique, fundamental principles, advantages and disadvantages and practical application for gear faults detection have been examined by literature review.