Rotating Machinery Diagnosing in Non-Stationary Conditions with Empirical Mode Decomposition-Based Wavelet Leaders Multifractal Spectra

Diagnosing the condition of rotating machines by non-invasive methods is based on the analysis of dynamic signals from sensors mounted on the machine—such as vibration, velocity, or acceleration sensors; torque meters; force sensors; pressure sensors; etc. The article presents a new method combining the empirical mode decomposition algorithm with wavelet leader multifractal formalism applied to diagnosing damages of rotating machines in non-stationary conditions. The development of damage causes an increase in the level of multifractality of the signal. The multifractal spectrum obtained as a result of the algorithm changes its shape. Diagnosis is based on the classification of the features of this spectrum. The method is effective in relation to faults causing impulse responses in the dynamic signal registered by the sensors. The method has been illustrated with examples of vibration signals of rotating machines recorded on a laboratory stand, as well as on real objects.