Bearing Fault Diagnosis Research Articles

A Transfer Learning Model for Rolling Bearing Fault Diagnosis Based on Texture Loss Strategy and Nuclear Norm Regularization

Abstract In recent years, transfer learning (TL) approaches have seen extensive application in diagnosing bearing faults due to their exceptional performance. However, mechanical noise, equipment aging, and wear lead to notable disparities and differences in the multi-level feature distributions across the source and target domain signals. The issue is addressed by proposing a transfer learning model based on a texture loss strategy and nuclear norm regularization method. First, a Feature-Enhanced Network (MSRnet) is designed, which significantly improves the ability to capture local details and long-range dependencies by combining a multi-scale feature extraction module with a dilated residual module. Next, a texture loss strategy is proposed to align multi-scale features across domains by minimizing the Gram matrix of signal features. Finally, a nuclear norm regularization method is proposed to perform low-rank approximation on the signal matrix, facilitating the extraction of more robust feature data and mitigating the risk of overfitting. The experimental results demonstrate that the proposed method achieved an average accuracy of 98.58% on the University of Ottawa bearing fault dataset and 98.11% on the Jiangnan University (JNU) bearing dataset, surpassing eight other algorithms in bearing fault diagnosis.

A single-layer dense convolutional reversible residual network for bearing fault diagnosis based on differential local adaptive

Abstract For the cross-domain fault diagnosis of industrial bearings under different working conditions and noise, most current domain adaptation methods in transfer learning only focus on either marginal distribution alignment or conditional distribution alignment. They fail to adequately combine discriminative and global distribution information. Furthermore, the majority of models have a very high parameter count and memory utilization, which makes it challenging to use them in real-world industrial situations. Therefore, a single-layer densely connected reversible residual network based on differential local adaptation is proposed. This network is more competitive in industrial applications than other fault diagnosis models since it not only uses less memory and has fewer parameters, but it also shows superior cross-domain fault diagnostic capacity in noisy situations. Additionally, to extract discriminative and global domain-invariant features, a domain adaptation module is created that takes into account local and global data distributions differently. Multiple transfer tasks and two distinct datasets are used to validate the model. Comparative tests reveal that the suggested model uses less memory and requires fewer parameters to attain good accuracy and transferability.

Graph-Based Feature Engineering for Enhanced Machine Learning in Rolling Element Bearing Fault Diagnosis

Graph-Based Feature Engineering for Enhanced Machine Learning in Rolling Element Bearing Fault Diagnosis

Transfer twin support matrix machine using rescaled pinball loss for roller bearing fault diagnosis

Transfer twin support matrix machine using rescaled pinball loss for roller bearing fault diagnosis

Contrastive learning-enabled digital twin framework for fault diagnosis of rolling bearing

Abstract Rolling bearings are essential components in various industrial machines, and their failures can lead to significant downtime and maintenance costs. Traditional data-driven fault diagnosis methods often require extensive fault datasets for training, which may not always be available in critical industrial scenarios, limiting their practicality. Digital twins, virtual representations of physical entities reflecting their operational conditions, offer a promising solution for the fault diagnosis of rolling bearings with limited fault data. In this paper, we propose a novel digital twin-driven framework to address the challenge of limited training data in rolling bearing fault diagnosis. Firstly, a virtual bearing simulation model is used to generate the simulated data. Subsequently, a transformer-based network is introduced to learn the discrepancy features from the raw data. Then, a Maximum Mean Discrepancy loss and a supervised contrastive learning loss for raw and augmentation data are established to achieve global domain alignment and instance-based domain alignment. Finally, an unsupervised contrastive learning loss for the augmentation data of the target domain is established to further improve the diagnostic performance. In five cross-domain fault diagnosis tasks representing real industrial scenarios set in this study, the proposed method achieved an average diagnostic accuracy of 84.40%, exceeding two existing advanced domain adaptation methods by more than 10%. The experimental results demonstrate that the proposed method achieves high diagnostic performance in real industrial scenarios where labeled data is lacking. This shows its significant benefits for monitoring the condition of critical bearings.

Fault diagnosis of rolling bearings under variable operating conditions based on improved graph neural networks

Abstract To address the issues of low diagnostic accuracy, insufficient generalization, and poor robustness in traditional fault diagnosis methods across different equipment and varying operating conditions, this paper proposes an improved graph neural network-based fault diagnosis method for rolling bearings to enhance model performance under complex conditions. First, the optimized wavelet transform coefficient features are used as nodes, and by exploring the correlations between features, node adjacency relationships are constructed. The associations between fault modes and feature node graphs under different conditions are studied, and a fault feature graph sample set based on subgraph structures is built, providing data for the subsequent graph neural network learning. Then, a multi-head attention mechanism (MHGAT) and multi-scale feature adaptive perception pooling (MSF-ASAP) are integrated to construct a multi-head graph attention mechanism model based on multi-scale feature adaptive perception pooling (MSM-GAT). MHGAT enhances the model's ability to perceive global information by learning different features from multiple perspectives and dimensions, thus improving the model's generalization. MSF-ASAP adaptively selects and aggregates information at multiple scales, enabling the model to effectively extract key features under various operating conditions, resist noise interference, and adapt to local information changes, thus improving the model's robustness under varying conditions and noisy environments. Experimental results under multiple and continuously varying conditions demonstrate that the proposed method outperforms traditional methods in terms of diagnostic accuracy and robustness. Notably, it exhibits excellent generalization when identifying unknown conditions, achieving over 95% accuracy in recognizing new conditions and maintaining over 92.5% accuracy in noisy environments.

Multi-channel Fused Vision Transformer Network for Bearing Fault Diagnosis under Different Working Conditions

Abstract Many of the current fault diagnosis methods rely on time-domain signals. While the richest information are contained in these signals, their complexity poses challenges to network learning and limits the ability to fully characterize them. To address these issues, a novel Multi-channel Fused Vision Transformer Network (MFVTN) is proposed in this paper. Firstly, the Overlapping Patch Embedding (OPE) module is introduced to overlap the time-domain map with edge information, preserving the global continuous features of the time-domain map and adding positional encoding for sorting. This integration helps the Vision Transformer (ViT) merge detailed features and construct the global mapping. Secondly, multiple dimensional time domain signal features are extracted and fused in parallel, enabling multi-domain fault diagnosis of bearings. In order to enhance the network ability to extract domain-invariant features, an adversarial training strategy combined with Wasserstein distance is utilized. The results demonstrate that the diagnostic accuracy of the proposed MFVTN can reach 98.2%.

A bearing fault diagnosis model with convolutional cross transformer and ResNet18

Abstract In the industrial field, malfunction of rotating machinery, especially bearings, can cause significant economic losses to enterprises. Addressing the limitations of traditional fault diagnosis methods, such as poor generalization performance and low noise resistance, this paper introduces a fault diagnosis model that parallels the cross convolutional transformer and ResNet18 (CCTAR). The proposed CCTAR utilizes two feature extraction channels, aimed at balancing the extraction of local and global features, and the specially designed convolutional cross-decoding layer has excellent noise resistance, surpassing traditional multi-layer Transformer encoding layers with a single-layer structure. CCTAR achieves commendable recognition accuracy across multiple datasets and maintains high accuracy in noisy environments. Furthermore, transfer learning experiments have demonstrated the proposed model’s capability to achieve superior fault diagnosis performance across different working conditions with a limited number of samples, highlighting its practical significance.

Losengram: An effective demodulation frequency band selection method for rolling bearing fault diagnosis under complex interferences

Abstract Resonance demodulation is one of the most effective methods for rolling bearing fault diagnosis. However, the selection of the proper demodulation frequency band (DFB) has always been considered as a substantial challenge. Although many popular DFB selection methods have been developed, such as fast Kurtogram (FK), Protrugram, and Autogram, they would suffer unsatisfactory performance degradation when encountering random impulsive noise or cyclostationary noise. Therefore, this paper proposes a novel DFB selection method called Losengram to address this problem. In the proposed method, a robust sub-band indicator, localized square envelope spectrum kurtosis, is designed to evaluate the fault information in a sub-band. With this indicator, the interferences of random impulsive noise and cyclostationary noise could be suppressed well. Besides, in order to circumvent the various adverse effects incurred by the utilization of a multi-rate finite impulse response filter bank, a frequency-domain sub-band filtering strategy is presented to filter the divided sub-bands in a 1/3-binary tree structure. The effectiveness of the proposed method is tested on both simulated and experimental signals, and the results show that it has a superior performance than the FK, Protrugram, as well as Autogram.

A Lightweight and Efficient Multimodal Feature Fusion Network for Bearing Fault Diagnosis in Industrial Applications

To address the issues of single-structured feature input channels, insufficient feature learning capabilities in noisy environments, and large model parameter sizes in intelligent diagnostic models for mechanical equipment, a lightweight and efficient multimodal feature fusion convolutional neural network (LEMFN) method is proposed. Compared with existing models, LEMFN captures rich fault features at multiple scales by combining time-domain and frequency-domain signals, thereby enhancing the model’s robustness to noise and improving data adaptability under varying operating conditions. Additionally, the convolutional block attention module (CBAM) and random overlapping sampling technology (ROST) are introduced, and through a feature fusion strategy, the accurate diagnosis of mechanical equipment faults is achieved. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed method not only possesses high diagnostic accuracy and rapid convergence but also exhibits strong robustness in noisy environments. Finally, a graphical user interface (GUI)-based mechanical equipment fault detection system was developed to promote the practical application of intelligent fault diagnosis in mechanical equipment.

Cepstrum-driven modulated empirical wavelet transform and its application in bearing fault diagnosis

Abstract Empirical wavelet transform (EWT) has a complete theoretical support and can adaptively separate modes with different characteristics from the frequency domain. Signal decomposition and mode extraction based on the empirical wavelet transform can obtain more accurate components. This paper proposes a modulated empirical wavelet transform driven by cepstrum under the basic framework of traditional EWT method. The most innovative point of this paper is to use the characteristics of cepstrum to update the waveform of trend spectrum and realize the function of separating different modes. The filtering process constructs filter banks covering the entire frequency band based on scaling functions and empirical wavelets. In order to enhance the fault characteristics from the filtering components, the amplitude of its spectrum was modulated based on the Fourier transform characteristics. Finally, the effectiveness of the algorithm is verified by using simulation signals and experimental signals provided by Case Western Reserve University. 
Keywords: Empirical wavelet transform, Rolling bearing, Cepstrum, Amplitude Modulation, Fault Diagnosis

Rolling Bearing Fault Diagnosis Model Based on External Attention Integrated Convolutional Neural Network under Imbalanced Data Conditions

Abstract Rolling bearings are essential components in numerous mechanical systems, and their failure can result in considerable downtime and expensive repairs. Therefore, accurate and timely fault diagnosis is vital for effective predictive maintenance and overall reliability. Traditional diagnostic methods often struggle with complex and non-stationary signals, compounded by issues of data imbalance in 
 realworld scenarios. A method for diagnosing rolling bearing faults has been developed in this paper utilizing External Attention (EA), Convolutional Neural Networks (CNN), and Continuous Wavelet Transform (CWT), specifically addressing the challenge of imbalanced sample data. This approach offers significant advantages, including a reduction in complexity by eliminating the need for data augmentation and leveraging external attention for enhanced feature extraction from samples. Compared to other attention mechanisms, this method demonstrates outstanding performance on both training and testing sets with imbalanced samples, exhibiting minimal overfitting tendencies. The proposed CWT-EACNN method effectively addresses the challenge of imbalanced sample data in rolling bearing fault diagnosis, demonstrating exceptional performance and reduced complexity.

Intelligent Fault Diagnosis Method Based on Neural Network Compression for Rolling Bearings

Rolling bearings are often exposed to high speeds and pressures, leading to the symmetry in their rotating structure being disrupted, which can lead to serious failures. Intelligent rolling bearing fault diagnosis is a critical part of ensuring operation of machinery, and it has been facilitated by the growing popularity of convolutional neural networks (CNNs). The outstanding performance of fault diagnosis CNNs results from complex and redundant network structures and parameters, resulting in huge storage and computational requirements, which makes it challenging to implement these models in resource-limited industrial devices. This study aims to address this problem by proposing a comprehensive compression method for CNNs that is applied to intelligent fault diagnosis. It involves several different compression methods, including tensor train decomposition, parameter quantization, and knowledge distillation for deep network compression. This results in a significant decrease in redundancy and speeding up the training of CNN models. Firstly, tensor train decomposition is applied to reduce redundant connections in both convolutional and fully connected layers. The next step is to perform parameter quantization to minimize the bits needed for parameter representation and storage. Finally, knowledge distillation is used to restore accuracy to the compressed model. The effectiveness of the proposed approach is confirmed by an experiment and ablation study with different models on several datasets. The results show that it can significantly reduce redundant information and floating-point operations with little degradation in accuracy. Notably, on the CWRU dataset, with about 60% parameter reduction, there is no degradation in our model’s accuracy. The proposed approach is a new attempt at the intelligent fault diagnosis of rolling bearings in industrial equipment.

Vibration spectrogram analysis for bearing fault diagnosis based on grad-cam for feature selection and statistical approach

Vibration spectrogram analysis for bearing fault diagnosis based on grad-cam for feature selection and statistical approach

Fault diagnosis of wind power pitch bearings based on spatiotemporal clustering and a deep attention subdomain adaptive residual network

Fault diagnosis of wind power pitch bearings based on spatiotemporal clustering and a deep attention subdomain adaptive residual network

Compound fault recognition and diagnosis of rolling bearing in open-set-recognition setting

The established bearing fault diagnosis methods are built to predict fault which is known at training time, leading to false predictions when unknown faults occur. To address this, this paper proposes a novel intelligent fault diagnosis methodology. To detect unknown faults in open-set-recognition (OSR) setting, the developed method proposes the evidential neural network involving two fully connected layers to classify and recognize fault. And a novel evidence prediction function is developed to improve diagnosis performance. To achieve more effective fault diagnosis in OSR setting, rather than unknown fault recognition, a Fourier transform based data augmentation is applied to diagnose the unknown compound fault. The experimental results show superior performance of the method. It’s able to classify new fault with 97% accuracy and diagnose compound faults (that involves previously unknown faults) with impressive 80% accuracy. The proposed method provides industries a new alternative to diagnose rotating equipment faults in open environments.

A Rolling Bearing Fault Diagnosis Method Based on Multimodal Knowledge Graph

A Rolling Bearing Fault Diagnosis Method Based on Multimodal Knowledge Graph

A Novel Collaborative Bearing Fault Diagnosis Method Based on Multisignal Decision-Level Dynamically Enhanced Fusion

A Novel Collaborative Bearing Fault Diagnosis Method Based on Multisignal Decision-Level Dynamically Enhanced Fusion

M-IPISincNet:An explainable multi-source physics-informed neural network based on improved SincNet for rolling bearings fault diagnosis

Timely and accurate diagnosis of bearing faults can effectively reduce the chance of accidents in equipment. However, deep learning methods are mostly completely dependent on data and lack interpretability. It is difficult to deal with the differences between real-time data and training data under changing working conditions and noisy environments. In this study, we proposed M-IPISincNet, an explainability multi-source physics-informed convolutional network based on improved SincNet. Rolling bearing fault diagnosis is realized by extracting fault features from vibration and current signals. Firstly, a physics-informed convolutional layer is designed based on inverse Fourier transform and bandpass filters. Fault features are extracted by multi-scale convolution and multi-layer nonlinear mapping. A DBN network is applied extract unsupervised hidden fusion features in the vibration and current signals. The proposed method is validated under the datasets of Paderborn University (PU) and Case Western Reserve University (CWRU), which proves that the proposed method has explainability, robustness and great accuracy under multiple working conditions and noises.

Vibration source inversion-based fault diagnosis: approach and application

The gear transmission system of industrial equipment is characterized by a highly integrated structure, non-stationary operating conditions, and large loads. Therefore, the attenuation of fault signal characteristics and the complexity of operating conditions in gear transmission systems significantly affect the effectiveness of vibration signal-based fault diagnosis. This paper proposes a unified diagnostic framework based on vibration source inversion for two typical transmission component fault signal phenomena: meshing frequency modulation sidebands and equally spaced fault characteristic frequency interval harmonic clusters. This approach incorporates the vibration transfer path analysis of passive subsystems and identifies bearing dynamic forces, followed by their decomposition, reconstruction, and sensitive frequency band localization. It enables accurate diagnosis of complex gear transmission systems under non-stationary conditions with limited vibration testing. The effectiveness and advantages of this method over existing mainstream signal processing techniques are validated through actual cases of gear and weak bearing fault diagnosis on a complex planetary gear transmission system test bench.