Vibration Institute of Australia Training Simulators

The following examples are from the software simulators available in the Mobius Institute classes.  Of course not all simulators are used in all classes.  But when they are used they make the topic much easier to understand.  There is nothing like watching the instructor click a couple of buttons to explain a concept that was difficult to understand.  You can almost hear the light come on as everyone in the class gets the point.

It should be said that these screen captures do not show all of the simulators.  Also, for every screen capture you see below, there are typically a number of options and settings that are used to demonstrate a large number of different concepts.

The bottom line is that these simulators enable you to quickly understand difficult concepts and procedures with a clarity that ensures that you will go on understanding the concept long after the course ends.

New: See them in action!

If you have a good Internet connection, click here to see animations of some of the simulators in action.  The page will take a moment to load, but it is worth the wait.

 
 

Fundamentals
This simulator is used to demonstrate the basics of vibration.  It can actually be used in six different modes, starting with very simple dynamic movement, building up to an explanation of the waveform, as well as frequency, period, amplitude and rms/peak/crest factor.

This simulator is helpful to introduce the spectrum.  As the knob is turned the waveform changes and the peak in the spectrum moves.
This simulator is used to demonstrate phase.  It starts with very basic phase relationships, and grows to demonstrate more complex phase relationships.

This program allows you to begin with the basics of one signal and waveform, and slowly add two more signals and show the spectrum to see how it changes as the signals are changed.  Then you can change the waveforms and spectrum in 3D mode - from one side of the cube you can see the waveforms, while from the other side you can see the spectrum.
This program demonstrates what happens when signals are added together.  Phase can also be demonstrated.

This program allows you to demonstrate how orbits are generated from two proximity probes.  In an advanced mode you can easily simulate a number of common fault conditions.
This simulator is primarily used to demonstrate the relationship between displacement, velocity and acceleration. It shows what happens as the speed is increased from low frequency to high frequency in both the time waveform and spectrum.
When describing the relationship between the time waveform and the spectrum, it is helpful to demonstrate it with sound.  This program shows the spectrum, waveform, and "spectral map" based on sounds received by the computer's microphone.
This simulator demonstrates how rms meters work, and what information is lost when the standard 10-1000 Hz filter is used.  You can select data from different types of machines (with different types of faults), and switch in different filter settings.  You can hear the vibration and therefore hear the effect of the filter.
 

Signal Processing
This program is used to explain the sampling process - the conversion from analog to digital. 

It is also used to explain aliasing, as you can control the sample rate and control the frequencies in the 'analog' signal.

And it can be used to demonstrate resolution - as the number of samples (i.e. the sample rate) is increased, the resolution of the spectrum increases.

This program demonstrates the relationship between resolution, the number of samples and the Fmax.

This program demonstrates aliasing.  You can generate signals below and above the Fmax setting with the anti-alias filters turned off.

This program demonstrates averaging: free run, linear, peak hold, and time synchronous averaging.  You can experiment with real signals, simulated signals, and signals from coast-down tests.

This program demonstrates windowing and leakage.
This program enables you to understand how low-pass, band-pass, bad-stop, and high-pass filters works.  You can select different signals from real machines so that you can see and hear the effect of the filter.
This program demonstrates the relationship between the Fmax settings, the sample rate, resolution, the number of averages and collection time.

You can set a running speed and a "defect frequency", and set the Fmax and resolution.  You can see visually what information would be included in the spectrum, and you can see how many cycles will appear in the waveform.  It also demonstrates how overlap averaging works, and the limitations.
 

Signals
This program demonstrates the waveform and spectrum for a wide range of classic signal types: sine wave, square wave, pulse train, impulse, clipped (distorted) wave, amplitude modulation, frequency modulation, beating, and sum & difference signals.

This demonstration allows people to understand why the waveforms and spectrum look the way they do.

As with most of these programs, you can listen to the waveform at the same time.
 

Spectrum analysis
This program allows you to build models of machines, compute the forcing frequencies and simulate the vibration. 

You can start with simple machines and build up to very complex machines (gearboxes, rolls, etc.).  You can even create bearings or add bearings from a large database.

 
Once you have created the model you can design band alarms and mask/envelope alarms.  You can experiment by adding signals to see how the band/envelope copes.
 

Fault diagnosis
This program demonstrates how bearings generate vibration, and it demonstrates why sidebands are generated.

This program can also be used to explain amplitude modulation.

As the inner race rotates in the animation, you can see the vibration generated by a variety of fault conditions.

This program demonstrates how gears mesh together, and why you see amplitude and frequency modulation in vibration data.  It also demonstrates a variety of fault conditions, including gear wear and the hunting tooth frequency.

By listing the prime factors and common factors, it also demonstrates the preferred frequencies (based on the combination of prime numbers).

You can simulate a damaged tooth to see how other teeth can be damaged.

The gears rotate on-screen and you can change the number of teeth dynamically.
We have a virtual test rig (fault demonstrator) that is used to demonstrate a wide range of signal types and fault conditions.  Rather than wasting time in class while the test rig is re-configured to demonstrate some type of fault, the instructor is only three clicks away from demonstrating real vibration data.

The vibration is displayed on screen, but can also be played through computer speakers or fed into a data collector.
Rather than just using images of spectra from unhealthy machines, we have a database of vibration measurements that came from machine with faults.  You will see the time waveforms and spectra from three axes, as well as a history of data that lead up to the fault occurring.

In addition to the case histories with historical data, we have 25 case histories that use "live data".  It is like having the machines right there in the classroom.  At each test location we have 30 seconds of vibration in three axes.  This data can be analyzed on screen, played through the computer speakers, or fed to a data collector.

This program demonstrates resonances, and the analysis techniques used to detect and understand them.

The software models the first three modes of a cantilevered beam, and a beam pinned at both ends.  You can change the mass, stiffness, damping, length and material of the beam.

You can then excite the beam with different signals and see an animation of the vibration.

The data can be viewed as a response spectrum, Nyquist plot, Bode diagram, waterfall plot, Campbell diagram.  You can simulate run-up and coast down tests and bump tests.

Peak-hold averaging and negative averaging can be used for analysis purposes.

This program allows you to enter vibration amplitude and phase readings for a motor and driven component (e.g. pump) to visualize how the machine moves.

You can manually enter the data and watch the machine animate (watch the motor rock back and forth, for example), or you can select one of the demonstration settings to understand phase relationships for common fault conditions.

This tool is used when learning about "bubble diagrams", and when teach select fault conditions: imbalance, misalignment, resonance, bent shaft, eccentricity, and more.

This program demonstrates resonances in a practical sense, and it is used to explain how Operating Deflection Mode-Shape (ODS) analysis is performed.

You can define a structure and enter vibration amplitude and phase readings at each of the points.  The structure then animates according to those readings.

It is very easy to visualize how the structure is vibrating, and it demonstrates the power of ODS analysis.

 

Corrective action
This simulator is used to demonstrate vectors and the entire single-plane balancing process.

This simulator is used to demonstrate two-plane balancing.  Each step can be revealed so that the process and calculations involved can be properly understood.

 

This simulator is used to demonstrate the calculations and procedures required to split balance weights between available blades or holes.

This simulator is used to demonstrate the calculations and procedures required to combine existing balance weights to determine the mass and angle of a single final weight.

This simulator allows you to add and remove shims and tighten and loosen jacking bolts to alter the alignment of the machine.  The graphics are all in 3D.

This simulator is used in the alignment course, and in the ISO vibration Cat II and II courses.

This simulator allows you to go through the complete dial-indicator alignment process.  Animations demonstrate each step of the process.  The dials show the readings.  The bar-sag test is simulated.  The results are shown in 3D, and the results can be shown graphically.  You can enter constraints to demonstrate bolt-bound and base-bound situations.

This simulator is used in the alignment course, and in the ISO vibration Cat II and II courses.

This simulator allows you to demonstrate the graphical method, and enables you to demonstrate how different feet can be moved when the machine is base-bound or bolt-bound.