Instantaneous frequency estimation for wheelset bearings weak fault signals using second-order synchrosqueezing S-transform with optimally weighted sliding window

The second-order synchrosqueezing S-transform (SSST2) is an important method for instantaneous frequency (IF) estimation of non-stationary signals. Based on the synchrosqueezing S-transform, the instantaneous frequency calculation method is modified using the second-order partial derivatives of time and frequency to achieve higher frequency resolution. However, weak multi-frequency signals with strong background noise are often drowned out during the transformation process. To achieve enhanced extraction of weak fault characteristic signals due to mechanical faults, this paper proposes an optimally weighted sliding window signal segmentation algorithm based on the SSST2. The results of simulations and experiments show that the time-frequency aggregation of the second-order synchrosqueezing S-transform based on the optimally weighted sliding window (OWSW-SSST2) is not only significantly higher than that of commonly used time-frequency transforms, but it also has better operational efficiency than the second-order synchrosqueezing S-transform. In this paper, the proposed algorithm is used to analyze fault signals from actual high-speed railway wheelset bearings. The results show that the OWSW-SSST2 algorithm greatly improves the spectral aggregation of the signal, and crucially, that high-precision IF estimates for signals can be obtained in low signal-to-noise ratio environments. This research is both of academic interest and significant for practical engineering use to ensure safe high-speed rail operations. It helps enable monitoring the status of wheelset bearings, correctly estimating the locations and causes of failures, and providing up-to-date systematic maintenance and system improvement strategies. (C) 2021 ISA. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.