Limit value in the practice of machine vibration diagnostics

Abstract The passive or field experiment is often the only source of data in the vibration diagnostics of machines. On the basis of this data the alarm and breakdown values of the symptom can be determined allowing the safe operation of machines. The present work compares two earlier approaches by the present author and presents a new approach according to Pareto's distribution. Significantly simpler analytical relations have been obtained for the determination of limit values and the mean life-curve. Experiments have shown that Pareto's approach is superior in its accuracy and simplicity of estimation.