Photo of the Week: Acoustic Resonance Spectroscopy Applied to Mechanical Condition Monitoring

Acoustic Resonance Spectroscopy (ARS) mechanical condition monitoring provides in situ, real-time wear and damage measurements of rotating machinery during operation. This avoids the costly downtime of machine disassembly and visual inspection in current methods. ARS automates continuous measurements. It sends alerts when wear exceeds a preset threshold to avoid dangerous catastrophic failures. The advance aids preventative maintenance and boosts operational performance to improve safety, save time, and reduce costs. ARS also applies to mechanical components in difficult-to-reach areas, such as engines, plug-screw feeders, and underground drilling. The software from Los Alamos National Laboratory is copyrighted and a patent is pending.

Photo credit: David Woodfin, Jacob Hassett, Allen Hopkins, Los Alamos National Laboratory