Vibration analysis to detect and locate engine misfires

Abstract

Vibration analysis is used to detect faults and anomalies in machinery and other mechanical systems that produce vibrations during operation. The study aimed to develop an algorithm that can detect and locate engine faults in automobiles by analyzing vibrational data produced during engine operation. Analysis was done on one type of engine fault – Spark Ignition Engine misfire. To detect anomalies in the vibrational pattern (waveform), analysis was carried out in both time and frequency domains. To obtain vibrational data an AVR – 32 (Arduino) based data acquisition device was built, and analysis was carried out in MATLAB using scripts and functions. The developed algorithm isolates frequency components in the waveform that corresponds to engine faults and converts them into numerical quantities that are then compared with computed ranges. The algorithm was able to identify the presence of a misfire in the engine and could locate the cylinder in which the misfire occurs with significant accuracy.