The Time Variant Discrete Fourier Transform as an Order Tracking Method

Present order tracking methods for solving noise and vibration problems are reviewed, both FFT and re-sampling based order tracking methods. The time variant discrete Fourier transform (TVDFT) is developed as an alternative order tracking method. This method contains many advantages which the current order tracking methods do not possess. This method has the advantage of being very computationally efficient as well as the ability to minimize leakage errors. The basic TVDFT method may also be extended to a more complex method through the use of an orthogonality compensation matrix (OCM) which can separate closely spaced orders as well as separate the contributions of crossing orders. The basic TVDFT is a combination of the FFT and the re-sampling based methods. This method can be formulated in several different manners, one of which will give results matching the re-sampling based methods very closely. Both analytical and experimental data are used to establish the behavioral characteristics of this new method.