Fault diagnosis of rotor systems with breathing slant cracks based on nonlinear output frequency response functions

When it comes to practical engineering, there is a high likelihood of shafts developing slant cracks due to torque transmission. These cracks exhibit breathing characteristics, repeatedly opening and closing under gravity and radial forces. To diagnose rotor systems with breathing slant cracks, the nonlinear output frequency response functions (NOFRFs) method is introduced. Firstly, a dynamic model of rotor systems with breathing slant cracks is established, and the system's frequency spectra are obtained by solving the model with different crack angles, depths, and positions. Secondly, the NOFRFs values at different orders are derived based on the NOFRFs theory. The simulation results display increased nonlinear characteristics with crack angle and depth. The system's nonlinear characteristics are stronger when cracks are closer to the disk. The [Formula: see text] value for the first-order is sensitive to crack angles, the [Formula: see text] value for the second-order is sensitive to crack depths, and the [Formula: see text] value for the fourth-order is sensitive to crack positions. As a result, the NOFRFs response at different orders can detect variations in angles, depths, and positions of the breathing slant crack. Finally, experiments are conducted on a rotor system with breathing slant cracks, and the results match those of the simulation, indicating that the NOFRFs method is feasible for identifying breathing slant cracks.