Optimal Frequency Band Selection for the Square Envelope Spectrum in the Diagnostics of Rolling Element Bearings

Diagnostics of rolling element bearings is usually performed by means of a second-order cyclostationary tool applied to the vibration signal, due to the stochastic nature of the contact between the defect and the bearing rolling elements. The most used and simple method is the Envelope Analysis that is based on the identification of bearing damage frequency components in the so-called Square Envelope Spectrum. The main critical point of this technique is the selection of a suitable frequency band for the demodulation of the vibration signal. The most used approach for the frequency band selection is based on the evaluation of the band-Kurtosis index by mean of diagrams as the frequently used Fast Kurtogram or the more recent Protrugram. Both of them may fail in the selection of the optimal frequency band when other vibration sources affect the Kurtosis index. Also critical is the constancy in the time of this optimal band. In the paper, an experimental case of a bearing damage is investigated and an alternative approach for the filter band selection, the so-called “PeaksMap”, will be proposed by the authors and compared with the ones available in the literature.