Vibration Theory and Terminology: Amplitude
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| Callout | Component Name |
|---|---|
| 1 | Maximum |
| 2 | Minimum |
| 3 | Zero-to-Peak Amplitude |
| 4 | Peak-to-Peak Amplitude |
Amplitude is the maximum value of a periodically varying quantity. Used in vibration diagnostics, we are referring it to the magnitude of the disturbance. A severe disturbance would have a high amplitude; a minor disturbance would have a low amplitude.
Amplitude is measured by the amount of actual movement, or the displacement. For example, consider the vibration caused by an out-of-balance wheel at 80 km/h (50 mph) as opposed to 40 km/h (25 mph). As the speed increases, the amplitude increases.