Detection of Electrical Contact Wear Using Vibrational Analysis,

Abstract

The paper examines how the sound vibrations produced during operation of an electric contact are related to the number of operations to which it has been subjected. The examination is accomplished in two parts. First, the theories underlying Bridge and Arc Transfer phenomena in electric contacts are reviewed. This information is then used to predict how contact wear can best be detected. The second part of the paper experimentally investigates how sound vibrations produced during operation of an electrical contact are related to the number of operations to which it has been subjected. The investigation is accomplished by measuring the sound produced during contact operation. The power spectral density of the sound records is then computed. Changes in the power spectral density records are then correlated to contact wear. The results of the experiment show that a pre-failure condition is detectable in the two electrical contacts tested. (Author)

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
May 01, 1973
Accession Number
AD0768131

Entities

People

  • Neil H. Schiller

Organizations

  • United States Army Materiel Command

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Detection
  • Electric Contacts
  • Electrical Equipment
  • Mechanical Waves
  • Vibration

Readers

  • Atmospheric Science / Meteorology, specifically Wind Wave Turbulence.
  • Electrical Engineering
  • Structural Health Monitoring of Composite Structures.