A hybrid ICEEMDAN and OMEDA-based vibrodiagnosis method for the bearing of rolling stock

Abstract

Purpose. To develop a hybrid method based on ICEEMDAN and OMEDA for high-fidelity detection of the diagnostic features of the technical condition of roller bearing. Methodology. Due to digital signal processing the search was made of the informative components on the broadband spectra, envelope spectra, squared envelope spectra. The usage of the methods of mathematical statistics for the selection of informative IMFs as a result of iterative calculate procedures. The introduction of blind deconvolution method with a proper objective function for the enhancement of impulse fault features. Findings. The use of traditional spectral methods provided an incomplete list of diagnostic features of bearing roller damage. The empirical mode decomposition (EMD) method and its minor versions provide the series of intrinsic mode functions (IMFs). On the broadband vibration spectra of the selected low-frequency IMFs, diagnostic features were not detected in a sufficient number. Further research focused on the development of a hybrid method that takes into account the demodulation procedure of the high-frequency components of those IMFs that were selected according to the complex evaluation index. The Fast Kurtogram technique determined an informative frequency band of 7.2–7.5 kHz for demodulation and construction of the squared envelope spectra, where harmonics of the roller spin frequency and some side bands with a width equal to the separator rotation frequency appeared. The use of OMEDA caused the reduction of residual noise on the squared envelope spectra and bilateral sidebands to appear around all harmonics of the roller spin frequency. Originality. For the first time, the whole list of the diagnostic features of roller faults of the axle-box bearing was identified using the developed hybrid method, which involves steps of noise reduction for enhancing a physical meaning of a proper frequency components, associated with faults. The usage of the optimal minimum entropy deconvolution adjusted method helped to eliminate noise and provide all diagnostic features of the technical condition on the squared envelope spectrum. Practical value. The results of the study help to control the quality of repair of the axle-box rolling bearings on the test rig at the workshop of the freight railway car depot.