Blade tip-timing is an extensively used technique for measuring blade vibrations in turbine and compressor stages; it is one of the preferred techniques used for characterizing their dynamic behaviors using non-contact probes. Typically, arrival time signals are acquired and processed by a dedicated measurement system. Performing a sensitivity analysis on the data processing parameters is essential for the proper design of tip-timing test campaigns. This study proposes a mathematical model for generating synthetic tip-timing signals, descriptive of specific test conditions. The generated signals were used as the controlled input for a thorough characterization of post-processing software for tip-timing analysis. This work represents the first step in quantifying the uncertainty introduced by tip-timing analysis software into user measurements. The proposed methodology can also offer essential information for further sensitivity studies on parameters that influence the accuracy of data analysis during testing.
Keywords: aeromechanics; arrival time; blade vibration; diagnostics; state-space; tip-timing; turbomachinery.