Magnetic bearings for non-destructive health monitoring of rotating machinery supported in conventional bearings

This paper describes initial results from a project expanding the field of rotor health monitoring by using Active Magnetic Bearings (AMBs) as actuators for applying a variety of known force inputs to a spinning rotor in order to monitor and evaluate response signals resulting from these inputs on-line. Similar to modal analysis and other nondestructive evaluation (NDE) techniques which apply input signals to static structures in order to monitor responses; this approach allows for the measurement of both input and output response in a rotating system for evaluation. However, unlike these techniques, the new procedure allows for multiple forms of force input signals to be applied to a rotating structure. This technique is being developed for use on rotating equipment supported in conventional bearings where an AMB actuator is added to a system for improved health monitoring. This paper presents initial results from this project including a demonstration of the system identification capability of the procedure during the commissioning of a test rig, and a summary of a technique developed for identifying breathing-cracks in rotors using the new technique.