A Strategy on Selection of Condition Monitoring Methods and Techniques

Abstract

High-maintenance or critical systems require a robust but affordable Condition Monitoring (CM) to be economical. Existing CM concepts can only be suitable for a limited number of applications and their real monitoring performance can only be estimated after intensive tests or while in actual operation. Due to the large number of methods available, it is difficult to decide for a specific one. Additionally, expert knowledge is required to select the most suitable technique for each method. This paper wants to show a strategy to master this problem by example results from investigations on monitoring electro-mechanical actuators supposed to be used as primary flight control servo drive. In detail, it will present how the proposed strategy works within test data of the main actuator component bearing only and subsequently discusses the implication for the actuator in its entirety. The example applies the strategy on combinations between signal processing techniques and statistical values analysis. This conduces to the comparison of two different monitoring methods: current signature and vibration signal. The suggested strategy can ensure the most suitable CM method for a certain application. Furthermore, it can extend the use of conventional monitoring concepts by demonstrating the potentials of the proposed technique combinations.