October 30, 2007 © SKF Group Slide 1

4 Unbalance - Identification

October 30, 2007 © SKF Group Slide 2

 How Do We Know We Need to Balance

When there is a high 1 X vibration

amplitude

When the amplitude exceeds the ISO

requirement for the class of machine

When the phase shift between the

horizontal and vertical directions is 90 0

October 30, 2007 © SKF Group Slide 3

 Symptoms of unbalance

Stable vibration reading

Stable phase reading (i.e.

Phase value +/- 2o)
Overall vibration severity
exceeds recommended limits.
Virtually all vibration is present at
the running speed of the rotor.

Vibration predominantly radial

in direction. E.g.
Vertical 10.2 mm/s
Horizontal = 7.0 mm/s
Vibration increases as square of
Axial = 0.9 mm/s speed. (E.g. not running through
a resonance)

Moving transducer by 90o

causes phase reading to
move by approximately 90o

October 30, 2007 © SKF Group Slide 4

 Unbalance - summary

• If the radial measurement's 1X amplitude is high, and all harmonics (except vane
passing) are less than 30% of the 1X and do not increase with speed, there may be
unbalance.
• If the majority of vibration is in the radial plane, and the 1X amplitude is medium to
high in amplitude, and phase readings from vertical and horizontal measurements on
the same bearing differ by 90°, there may be unbalance.
• If there is a non-synchronous peak corresponding to the 1X running speed of a
nearby machine, there may be unbalance in the other machine.
• If vibration increases in both the axial and radial measurement planes, the machine
has an overhung mass, and the axial phase measurements across the machine or
coupling are in phase, there may be unbalance.

October 30, 2007 © SKF Group Slide 5

Unbalance - typical spectrum (pure unbalance)

High 1X

Low Multiples of 1X

October 30, 2007 © SKF Group Slide 6

Unbalance - typical indications

• (Overall vibration) - high energy, low frequency, radial vibration

• (Spectrum) - higher than normal amplitude at 1X running speed frequency
• (Spectrum) - With the high 1X, there are little or no amplitude increases at
running speed harmonic frequencies (2X, 3X, 4X, etc.)
• (Spectrum) - 1X amplitude increases proportionally to speed increases
• (Phase) - Sensor shows 90° phase shift between horizontal and vertical
positions on the same bearing
• (Phase) - For predominantly static unbalance, there is usually no phase shift
across the machine or coupling in the same measurement position.

October 30, 2007 © SKF Group Slide 7

Unbalance Characteristics.

 Unbalance is always indicated by high vibration at 1 x RPM

of the unbalanced part.

 The amplitude at 1 x RPM will normally be greater than or

equal to 80 % of the overall amplitude when the problem is
limited to unbalance.

October 30, 2007 © SKF Group Slide 8

Unbalance Characteristics.

 The amplitude of vibration due to Unbalance is proportional

to the square of the speed.

 Unbalance generates a uniform rotating force and is evenly

applied in all radial directions. However, when the ratio of
horizontal to vertical is greater than 6 to 1, it normally
indicates other problems, not Unbalance.

October 30, 2007 © SKF Group Slide 9

Unbalance Characteristics.

 Phase difference between horizontal to vertical is 90 deg.

(+- 30 deg.)

 The horizontal phase difference between DE & NDE

bearing is close to the phase difference in vertical direction.

October 30, 2007 © SKF Group Slide 10

Unbalance Characteristics.

 Unbalanced rotors exhibit steady and repeatable phase in radial

directions.

 The effects of unbalance may sometimes be amplified by resonance.

 Often, it is not possible to balance the rotors having noticeable

looseness.

October 30, 2007 © SKF Group Slide 11

Unbalance of Overhung Rotors.

October 30, 2007 © SKF Group Slide 12

Characteristics of Unbalance of Overhung Rotors

 Overhung rotors can generate large axial forces at 1 x RPM

which can cause axial vibration to be equal to or greater than
radial vibration amplitudes.

 Overhung rotors often generate a high degree of couple

unbalance in addition to Static unbalance.

 For pure unbalance of overhung rotors, axial phase readings

of both the bearings will be approximately same.

 For balancing of overhung rotors, correction should be done

at both planes.

October 30, 2007 © SKF Group Slide 13

Other causes of high 1*rpm vibration

• Resonance
• Bent shaft
• Misalignment
• Eccentricity
• Looseness
• Electric problems

October 30, 2007 © SKF Group Slide 14

 Equipment Setup

October 30, 2007 © SKF Group Slide 15

 What is Phase

The relationship of the movement of part of a machine to a

reference – for example the position of the shaft as it rotates
The relationship of the movement between one or more points on a
machine

In-Phase Motion Out-of-Phase Motion

October 30, 2007 © SKF Group Slide 16

Phase Angle

tach. notch
tach. sensor Heavy spot 270o

90o
accelerometer
0o 180o 360o
0o 180o

force
270o time

90o

October 30, 2007 © SKF Group Slide 17

Using Phase - Unbalance

static imbalance -
vibration across machine
“in phase”

couple imbalance -
vibration across machine
“180 degrees out of
phase”

October 30, 2007 © SKF Group Slide 18

Using Phase – Bent Shaft

Axial measurements
across machine
typically 180 degrees out
of phase, and ...

Radial measurements
across machine
are typically in phase

October 30, 2007 © SKF Group Slide 19

Phase

1 4

2
5

October 30, 2007 © SKF Group Slide 20

 Checks before balancing

Verify that unbalance is the cause of the high vibration

Rectify other faults before attempting a balance
Do not attempt to balance at resonance

• Perform a bump test

• Perform a run down test

October 30, 2007 © SKF Group Slide 21

October 30, 2007 © SKF Group Slide 22