Induction Motor Condition Monitoring: Vibration
Analysis Technique - a Twice Line Frequency
Component as a Diagnostic Tool
Mikhail Tsypkin, Member, IEEE
Vibration Specialty Corporation (VSC)
100 Geiger Road, Philadelphia, PA 19115-1090, USA
mtsypkin@vib.com
Abstract - Vibration analysis is one of the most successful
techniques used for condition monitoring of induction motors.
The efficiency of this technique for diagnosing electromagnetic
problems in the motor depends on the ability to analyse vibration
data. The aim of this presentation is to clarify the origin of the
motor vibration at twice line frequency based on the classical
theory of electromagnetic vibration, recent researches, and the
author’s many years of experience in the field of vibration
diagnostics on electrical machines from different industries. The
vibration component at a twice line frequency is a very important
indicator when evaluating an induction motor electromagnetic
system condition. The correct understanding of physical
phenomena that excite the vibration at this frequency is a key
factor for diagnosing induction motor problems related to
electromagnetic system operation. This presentation emphasizes
that the most important forcing functions exciting the vibration
at twice line frequency are the radial magnetic forces produced
by the fundamental rotating magnetic field and a torque
pulsation due to asymmetrical voltage and current in the stator
winding as a result of a supply voltage imbalance in the power
line and/or internal faults in the motor electrical system.
Vibration excited by these sources may be significantly amplified
by a resonance condition on the entire motor structure and/or on
the particular motor components (for example, a stator core).
Keywords - condition monitoring, diagnostics, electrical
faults, induction motors, twice line frequency, vibration analysis.
I. INTRODUCTION
Condition monitoring and fault diagnosis of induction
motors based on the vibration analysis technique are widely
used in modern industry. Accuracy of the machinery diagnosis
made using vibration analysis depends on the ability to
correctly analyse vibration data, especially frequency spectra.
Vibration analysis is one of the oldest and the most successful
techniques used for condition monitoring of rotating machines.
This technique is very effective for diagnosing different types
of mechanical problems. However, motor vibration data also
contain substantial analytical information about internal motor
electrical problems such as: stator and rotor winding and core
condition, air gap eccentricity, and information about external
electrical anomalies: current/voltage imbalance, voltage
distortions in the power line, etc.
978-1-4673-4974-1/13/$31.00 ©2013 IEEE
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One of the most important components in the induction
motor vibration spectra is at a twice electrical line frequency:
100 Hz for the 50 Hz power line and 120 Hz for the 60 Hz
power line. This component is inherent for all alternate current
electrical machinery vibration spectra and is a result of a
machine structure’s excitation under the action of variable
electromagnetic forces. However, there are different
interpretations of the sources of this type of induction motor
vibration in the practice of modern vibration analysis and
condition monitoring.
The aim of this presentation is to clarify the origin of the
motor vibration at twice line frequency based on the classical
theory of electromagnetic vibration, recent researches, and the
author’s many years of experience in the field of vibration
diagnostics on electrical machines from different industries.
The three phase induction motor was invented in the second
half of the 19th century by Russian engineer Dolivo-
Dobrovolsky. By the beginning of 20th century, the induction
motor was ready for wide industrial use. Excessive motor
acoustical noise and vibration became a subject of researches
for many engineers in different countries in the first half of
20th century. The fundamental works [1] - [8] were published
in France, Germany, England, USA, and other countries. The
basic mechanism of noise and vibration production in
electrical motors was found. The major result of these
researches was that electromagnetic vibration in the alternate
current electrical machines is a result of effects of rotating
electromagnetic forces on the stator core. One of the most
important findings was that the magnitude of the noise and
vibration directly depends on the mechanical behaviour of the
motor structure and the possibility of a resonance condition
being excited by different types of rotating forces.
A detailed analysis of electromagnetic force waves in an
induction motor performed in [7] allowed the author to make
the next important conclusion: the main “force wave is
produced by the fundamental flux and cannot be eliminated by
making the machine free from any imperfections, e.g.
eccentricity, stator/rotor dissymmetry and saturation”. This
force wave has the mode number equal to twice the pole pair
number and the force frequency equal to the twice the supply
frequency [7].
 Later, in practical vibration analysis, an idea was introduced
that the major source of motor vibration at twice line
frequency is a static eccentric air gap [9] - [12]. Modern
training courses and diagnostic charts associate vibration at
twice line frequency in induction motors with an eccentric air
gap in the motor.
However, a number of special researches performed on
induction motors tailored for the artificial change of the air
gap eccentricity [13] – [16] are not confirming this statement.
Usually, vibration levels at twice line frequency depend very
slightly on the amount of air gap eccentricity [16].
Analysis of vibration signals as a function of the
combination of static and dynamic air gap eccentricity in 3-
phase induction motors [17] allowed the authors to make a
conclusion that the 100 Hz (twice line frequency) vibration
component will be unpredictable and vibration monitoring of
this component to assess the degree of static eccentricity may
not be consistent and clear.
Static eccentric air gap in the electrical machines changes
the mechanical behaviour of the stator. It creates magnetic
force waves with new orders. Stator core natural frequencies
for these waves have significantly changed and may cause a
resonance condition on the machine structure [6], [7], [8] and
[18].
Acceptable amplitudes for vibration components at twice
line frequency measured on the induction motor housing are
defined by different modern standards: NEMA MG1, API 541
and IEEE 841 [12].
II. SOURCES OF ELECTROMAGNETIC VIBRATION IN INDUCTION
MOTORS
There are two major sources of electromagnetic vibration at
twice line frequency in induction motors: radial
electromagnetic forces and tangential electromagnetic forces.
Well designed, normally operating modern induction motors
do not have a significant amount of variable components of
electromagnetic forces.
However, due to internal motor faults or external anomalies,
such as low power supply quality and type of load,
electromagnetic vibration may create serious problems that
affect normal motor operation. Excessive motor
electromagnetic vibration is also very often a result of a
resonance condition on the structure of an entire unit or on the
motor components, such as a stator core.
Electromagnetic vibration in induction motors is a result of
effects of the electromagnetic forcing functions onto the motor
rotor and stator. Electromagnetic noise in induction motors has
been associated with vibration and studied since the early
designs of induction motors. The first research in this field
was done in 1920’s and 1930’s [1] – [3].
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A classical theory of electromagnetic vibration
mathematically describes radial electromagnetic forces as a
force-wave expression [4] - [7]:
p(α,t) = P(r,ω) cos(rα - ωt - ψp) (1)
where P(r,ω) - the force-wave amplitude;
r - the force-wave order (mode);
ω - the force-wave angular frequency;
ψp - the phase angle;
α - an angular coordinate;
t - time.
The force-wave is defined by the amplitude, frequency and
order (mode). The order of the force-wave is a number of full
waves distributed along the stator core circumference. Stator
core natural frequencies depend on the order of the force-wave.
According to the Maxwell stress tensor (Maxwell Law) [6],
the radial force waves acting on the stator core are
proportional to the square of the flux density waveform:
p(α,t) = B2(α,t)/2μ0 (2)
where B(α,t) - the flux density;
μ0 - the permeability of free space.
The fundamental magnetic wave in accordance with
expression (2) creates the radial electromagnetic force-wave
with a frequency of 2fL(twice line frequency), which is a
major source of vibration in the alternate current electrical
machines at this frequency.
Fig. 1 – 4 are showing spectra recorded on the normally
operating induction motors with different numbers of poles
and, respectively, operating at different operating speeds. All
these figures (spectra) have their axis labels identified as
follows: the horizontal axis shows frequency in Hertz (Hz);
the vertical axis in the spectra displays root mean square (rms)
vibration amplitude (velocity) in millimetres per second
(mm/s).
A vibration component at 120 Hz (2fL) is excited by radial
electromagnetic forces.
Fig. 1. This vibration spectrum was recorded on a 700 HP 2-pole induction
motor, operating at 3584 revolutions per minute (rpm).
Fig. 2. This vibration spectrum was recorded on a 250 HP 4-pole induction
motor, operating at 1792 rpm.
Fig. 3. This vibration spectrum was recorded on an 800 HP 6-pole
induction motor, operating at 1190 rpm.
Fig. 4. This vibration spectrum was recorded on a 400 HP 8-pole
induction motor, operating at 894 rpm.
Another source of vibration at this frequency is a tangential
electromagnetic force (Lorentz force), which may create a
significant torque pulsation in an induction motor under
certain conditions [19]. One of the first publications that
pointed to the relationship between the torque pulsation and
motor vibration was published in 1930 [2]. “A torsional
vibration of the stator and rotor as a whole results from
periodic torque pulsation. Such a vibration may be particularly
objectionable as it is transmitted directly through the motor
feet to the supporting structure. Due to the reaction of
unsymmetrical supports torque pulsation may also distort the
stator from its circular shape” [2].
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Fig. 5. Torsional vibration produced by two fields with like number of
poles but different angular velocities [2].
The periodic torque component is superimposed on the
constant torque component and causes torque pulsation. In
turn, torque pulsation results in undesirable speed pulsation,
noise, and vibration.
A harmonic (periodic) component of electromagnetic
torque is defined as:
T(t) = T(Ω) cos(Ωt - ψτ) (2)
where T(Ω) - the harmonic torque component amplitude;
Ω - the angular frequency;
ψτ - the phase angle.
In the case of a voltage/current imbalance (asymmetrical
voltage/current in a three phase stator winding), the periodic
torque component with frequency of 2fL in the induction
motor may be substantial [19]. Torque pulsation results in a
torsional vibration of the motor stator and rotor.
Rotor speed pulsation very often creates frequency
modulation of the vibration components that are excited by the
rotor. Torsional stator vibration is usually a source of vibration
at twice line frequency under the operation at phase current
imbalance. This type of vibration is very directional and
usually may be very easily measured in the tangential
direction.
A special test on the motor suspended on the springs is
described in [20]. This test allowed eliminating influence of
the foot mounting and the motor base on the motor vibration.
Vibration levels on the motor casing were measured in the
radial and tangential directions during the motor operation
under a significant current imbalance. Fig. 6 - 9 show the
results of this test. These figures (spectra) have their axis
labels identified as follows: the horizontal axis shows
frequency in Hertz (Hz); the vertical axis in the spectra
displays root mean square (rms) vibration amplitude
(acceleration) in decibels (dB).

Acceleration, dB
Frequency, Hz
Fig. 6. Vibration spectrum recorded on a 4 kW 2-pole induction motor,
suspended on the springs. The motor was operating under balanced
(symmetrical) phase currents. Vibration was measured in the radial direction.
Acceleration, dB
Frequency, Hz
Fig. 7. Vibration spectrum recorded on a 4 kW 2-pole induction motor,
suspended on the springs. The motor was operating under balanced
(symmetrical) phase currents. Vibration was measured in the tangential
direction.
Acceleration, dB
Frequency, Hz
Fig. 8. Vibration spectrum recorded on a 4 kW 2-pole induction motor,
suspended on the springs. The motor was operating under strong current
imbalance (unsymmetrical currents in three phases). Vibration was measured
in the radial direction.
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Acceleration, dB
Frequency, Hz
Fig. 9. Vibration spectrum recorded on a 4 kW 2-pole induction motor,
suspended on springs. The motor was operating under a strong current
imbalance (unsymmetrical currents in three phases). Vibration was measured
in the tangential direction.
Vibration levels at 100 Hz (2fL) measured in the tangential
direction had increased from 54 dB to 79 dB during the motor
operation under the strong current imbalance. This means that
vibration levels in the tangential direction had increased by 28
times. The test confirms that induction motors are very
sensitive to the voltage (current) imbalance. The vibration
levels at twice line frequency (100 Hz) had predominantly
increased in the tangential direction due to a torque pulsation.
III. CASE HISTORIES
Induction motor vibration is a result of a motor structure
excitation under the action of a forcing function of either
mechanical or electromagnetic origin. All discrepancies in the
motor’s operation are reflected in the vibration signal recorded
on the induction motor during its normal operation. Vibration
analysis extracts specific information from the data that
precisely identifies mechanical problems, such as: imbalance,
sheave and coupling misalignment, mechanical looseness,
bearing condition, foundation problems, resonances, etc.
Motor vibration data also contain substantial analytical
information about internal motor electrical issues, such as:
stator and rotor winding and core condition and air gap
eccentricity, as well as information about external electrical
problems: current/voltage imbalance, voltage distortions in the
power line, etc. The next four Case Histories from different
industries represent excessive vibration on the induction
motors at twice line frequency (120 Hz). All figures (spectra)
in this section have their axis labels identified as follows: the
horizontal axis shows frequency in Hertz (Hz); the vertical
axis in the spectra displays root mean square (rms) vibration
amplitude (velocity) in millimetres per second (mm/s).
Case History #1 An identical Motor #2 showed a peak of 0.5 mm/s at 120
Two identical 25 HP 2-pole induction motors (horizontal Hz (Fig.13). A resonance test did not show any natural
pumps) were tested at the same time. The highest vibration frequency around 120 Hz (Fig.14) and no resonance condition
peak amplitude of 8.7 mm/s at 120 Hz was found on Motor #1 at this frequency was found on the motor structure.
in the axial direction (Fig.10). A resonance test was performed
on the motor which has revealed a natural frequency around
120 Hz in the axial direction (Fig.11). A resonance condition
significantly amplifies vibration at this frequency. The motor
base was stiffened to shift a natural frequency and eliminate a
resonance condition. Vibration level at 120 Hz has decreased
to 2.3 mm/s (Fig.12).

Fig. 13. Motor #2. This vibration spectrum was recorded on the motor during
it regular operation and is indicating an acceptable vibration level at 120 Hz.

Fig. 10. Motor #1. This vibration spectrum was recorded on the motor during
it regular operation and is indicating excessive vibration at 120 Hz in the axial
direction.

Fig. 14. Motor #2. A resonance (bump) test was performed on the motor and
did not reveal the presence of a natural frequency at 120 Hz.

Fig. 11. Motor #1. A resonance (bump) test was performed on the motor in the
axial direction, which revealed the presence of a natural frequency at 120 Hz.
Case History #2
Vibration data was collected on a belt driven fan with a two
speed 40 HP induction motor. A brand new motor was
installed on the unit prior to the testing due to a long term
vibration problem on the motor during operation at high speed.
The motor was tested at 2-pole mode operation (3560 rpm)
and at 4-pole mode operation (1780 rpm).

High speed test (2-pole mode)

Fig. 12. Motor #1. This vibration spectrum was recorded on the motor during
it regular operation after the motor base was stiffened. The vibration level at
120 Hz had decreased to the acceptable level.
The motor showed an extremely high vibration level of 27.7
mm/s at 120 Hz in the horizontal direction in the loaded
condition (Fig. 15). During operation while unbelted (solo),
the motor showed a peak of 9.6 mm/s at 120 Hz (Fig.16).

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Fig. 15. This vibration spectrum was recorded on the 40-HP two speed motor
operating in 2-pole mode (high speed) under the load.
Fig. 16. This vibration spectrum was recorded on the unbelted motor
operating in 2-pole mode.
Low speed test (4-pole mode)
The motor showed a low vibration level of 0.3 mm/s at 120
Hz in the horizontal direction in the loaded condition (Fig. 17).
During operation while unbelted (solo), the motor showed a
peak of 0.8 mm/s at 120 Hz (Fig.18).
Fig. 17. This vibration spectrum was recorded on the 40-HP two speed motor
operating in 4-pole mode (low speed) under the load.
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Fig. 18. This vibration spectrum was recorded on the unbelted motor
operating in 4-pole mode.
Resonance test
A resonance test was performed on the motor, which
revealed a natural frequency at 118.8 Hz in the horizontal
direction (Fig.19). A resonance condition significantly
amplified vibration at this frequency during operation at high
speed (2-pole mode).
Fig. 19. A resonance (bump) test was performed on the motor in the
horizontal direction, which revealed the presence of a natural frequency at
118.8 Hz.
Summary
This case study demonstrates that an induction motor
operating in different number-pole modes may have
significantly different vibration levels at twice line frequency.
Generally this is related with an order of the force-wave
produced by the main magnetic field. In this case, the order of
the force wave (a number of full waves distributed along the
stator core circumference) is two for 2-pole mode and four for
4-pole mode. A stator core has significantly different natural
frequencies for each type of oscillations and, in turn, different
vibration amplitudes.
Case History #3
This case involved a 150 HP, 4-pole induction motor that is
driving the vertical pump. The motor rated operating speed is
1760 rpm. Vibration data had been recorded on this motor
during a standardized monthly survey for 10 years. Data
analysis showed that the vibration peak amplitude at 2X line
frequency (120 Hz) fluctuated in a wide range during the
observation over that long time period. The highest peak
amplitude was recorded at 18.4 mm/s (Fig. 20) and the lowest
level was recorded at 1.9 mm/s (Fig. 21), both in the tangential
direction. Excessive vibration recorded on this motor at 2X
line frequency is a result of a voltage/current imbalance due to
a voltage imbalance in the plant power line, which changes
depending on the type of load.
Fig. 20. This vibration spectrum recorded on a 150 HP induction motor
(vertical pump) in the tangential direction indicated an extremely high peak at
twice line frequency (120 Hz) due to a voltage imbalance in the power line.
Fig. 21. This vibration spectrum recorded on a 150 HP induction motor
(vertical pump) in the tangential direction indicated a normal vibration level at
the same frequency under symmetrical voltage in the power line.
Case History #4
A vertical pump with a 100 HP, 4-pole induction motor
started to show a high vibration level at 2X line frequency.
Extremely high vibration amplitude of 60.3 mm/s at 120 Hz
was recorded on the top motor bearing (Fig. 22) in the
tangential direction, indicating a severe current imbalance in
the stator winding. This vibration was a result of a stator
winding failure. The motor was removed from service, rebuilt
and reinstalled. A new set of vibration data was recorded
which showed acceptable vibration levels (Fig. 23).
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Fig. 22. This vibration spectrum recorded on a 100 HP induction motor
(vertical pump) in the tangential direction indicated an extremely high peak at
twice line frequency (120 Hz) due to a stator winding failure.
Fig. 23. This vibration spectrum recorded on a 100 HP induction motor
(vertical pump) in the tangential direction indicated a normal vibration level
after motor repair.
IV. CONCLUSION
Our many years of experience demonstrate that induction
motor condition monitoring using vibration analysis provides
reliable detection of electrical problems in motors. Vibration
analysis techniques combine the possibility for fault detection
(by revealing excessive machinery vibration), diagnosis of
vibration problems in the machinery, and faults in the
machinery’s electromagnetic system, including internal and
external electromagnetic anomalies. A component at twice line
frequency in the induction motor vibration spectrum is one
from whole series of spectral components, which have an
electromagnetic origin. A correct understanding of physical
phenomena that excite the vibration at all of these frequencies
is a key factor for diagnosing induction motor problems
related to the electromagnetic system operation.
Comprehensive analysis of different researches, published
works and practical experience is a way for improving a
vibration analysis technique for reliable condition monitoring
of electromagnetic problems in induction motors.
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