Identification of Failing Mechanical Systems through Spectrometric Oil Analysis

Abstract

The results obtained from spectrometric analyses may be viewed as being stochastic in nature, so that decisions based upon them are necessarily accompanied by uncertainties. A class of rules is developed for making decisions concerning whether a mechanical system may be failing, based upon spectroscopic analyses of the system's oil over a period of time. Some considerations that went into the development of these rules, including studies of past analysis records and experiments, are presented. Identification procedures of the type suggested should perform well in connection with a computerized analysis system, at least insofar as routinely monitoring the well behaved systems, while calling the attention of appropriate personnel to possibly discrepant systems.