Simcenter Testing Solutions Zebra Tape Butt Joint Correction for Torsional Vibrations

2020-10-07T21:21:46.000-0400
Simcenter Testlab

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Direct YouTube link: https://youtu.be/QoX0cdzBG_c


shaft.png Measuring Torsional Vibration with Zebra Tape? Be careful about the "Butt Joint" where the tape ends overlap on the shaft!

When measuring the torsional vibration of a rotating shaft, a optical pickup (for example, a laser) is often used in conjunction with “zebra tape”.

“Zebra tape” has black and white stripes, and is wrapped around the shaft, while the laser points directly at the surface of the tape.

As the shaft rotates, the laser “sees” each stripe as it passes, and the time between stripes in used to determine the rpm of the rotating shaft.

By using many stripes, very fine fluctuations in the rpm can be measured, including fluctuations within one revolution of the shaft. These fluctuations can be very damaging to the rotating equipment, putting great stress and strain on the rotating parts. For example, the speed changes associated with combustion events in a engine can cause the crankshaft or driveline to fatigue prematurely.

zebra_tape.png

Zebra tape is wrapped around the rotating shaft.


When the rotating system is operating, the time between the passing of each stripe is used to measure the rpm very precisely.

Despite taking great care, it is possible that the stripes are not evenly distributed over the radius of the shaft. When this happens, a “butt joint” is created where the two ends of the tape overlap.

overlap.png
A "butt joint" can occur when the ends of the zebra tape do not wrap evenly around the rotating shaft. This causes erroneous readings in the rpm.

If a gap occurs at the overlapping ends, the shaft will appear to slow down momentarily once per revolution. This instantaneous slow down appears as a sudden dip in the rpm value. It is also possible that two stripes are closer together at the overlapping “butt joint”, causing a momentary increase in rpm speed (ie, a “rpm spike”). This momentary changes in rpm are not real, but are artificial readings caused by the zebra tape overlap.

RPM_Dips.png
Uneven overlap in the Zebra tape causes artificial fluctuations in the rpm of the rotating system.

In Simcenter Testlab Time Signal Calculator, there is a function called “ZEBRA_MOMENTS_TO_RPM”. This function is used to correct for the rpm spikes or dips introduced by the butt joint. “ZEBRA_MOMENTS_TO_RPM” is part of the "Tacho group" of functions in Time Signal Calculator.

zebra_moment_menu.png
The ZEBRA_MOMENTS_TO_RPM function in LMS Test.Lab Signal Calculator can be used to reduce artificial fluctuations in rpm due to zebra tape butt joints.

“Function1” is used to point to rpm data with the butt joint error (Channel number or Channel name can be used).

The intended number of stripes is entered into the “Pulses_per_rev” field.

correct_zebra.png
Corrected torsional rpm (Green) with artificial fluctuations removed versus original butt joint affected data (Red).

After running the ZEBRA_MOMENTS_TO_RPM function, a new data trace is created that has the butt joint effects removed.

With SImcenter Testlab 16A and higher, it is even possible to remove the effects of multiple butt joints.

 

Questions? Email scott.beebe@siemens.com, contact Siemens Support Center, or post a reply to this article.

 

See the Torsional Vibration White Paper for more information on measuring torsional vibration.

 

Rotating Machinery Links:

KB Article ID# KB000042895_EN_US

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