Counting Procedures

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2 Data Compression Strategies

The basic question is:

Again, the requirements of the data-customer (sales guy, supervisor,

engineer) have to be taken into account.

Example: measurement of the dynamic loading of a component

engineer:

min/max stressing during operation, loadcycles for different

operation loads, failure accumulation and the potentials for
design modifications

sales guy:

lifetime of the machine under given operation conditions

(important for warranty issues)

supervisor:

preparation data for the next supervision,components to be

checked

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2 Data Compression Strategies

Counting strategies can be applied to different kinds of signals:

Again, the requirements of the data-customer (sales guy, supervisor,

engineer) have to be taken into account.
For the investigation of load scenarios and the calculation of the fatigue
strength counting procedures are required. After application, an information
about the number of load cycles for different operation conditions is available.
Vibration and noise data often need transformations to data that is not
measured directly (e.g. frequency). Here, often a comparison to expected data
is of importance. Hence, only differences to a predefined pattern has to be
detected. The same happens for pictures!
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2.1 Counting Procedures

When load signals are to be analysed, the raw data has to be compressed
without or with negligible loss of information.

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2.1.1 Classes and Class Sizes

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2.1.2 Amplitude Suppression

Amplitude suppression is required to avoid that small changes in the signal
results in a counted load cycle. The signal change is taken into account if the
difference between the class limit/maxima and the minima is larger than a
predefined threshold.
Suppression based on classes

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Suppression based on extreme values

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2.1.3 Counting Procedures

The use of counting procedures enables engineers to simplify the real loading
of a system. As a result a numbers of loadcycles for a certain set of parameters
can be found.
Dependent on the number of parameters describing the signal we distinguish
between one-dimensional and two-dimensional procedures.
one-dimensional
procedure

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two-dimensional
procedure

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2.1.3.1 Level Crossing Counting

The crossing of a class limit is counted. Only the rising edge has to be
analysed. The signal collective gives the number of load cycles for one single
parameter (level crossing)

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2.1.3.2 Range Pair Couting

Range pair counting analyses and substitutes a single range pairs until the
complete signal is described.
A range pair is a rising and a falling edge crossing the same number of
classes.

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2.1.3.2 Range Pair Couting Example

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2.1.3.2 Range Pair Couting Example

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2.1.3.2 Range Pair Couting Example

The result can also be shown as a collective. Again, the collective gives further
information about the signal.

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counts

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2.1.3.2 Range Pair Counting

Signal with constant amplitudes

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2.1.3.2 Range Pair Counting

Damped signal with decreasing amplitude

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2.1.3.2 Range Pair Counting

Signal with single peaks and nearly constant basic oscillation

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2.1.3.3 Comparison 1D-Procedures

Level Crossing Counting

Range Pair Counting

losses:
amplitudes
mean values

losses:
mean values
maxima, minima

information:
minima, maxima
(approximately)

information:
signal range/
double amplitudes

In reality, the number of loadcycles is much larger than

in the given examples. Hence, a scaling using Nmax is
recommended.
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2.1.4 Two-dimensional Counting Procedures

Two-dimensional counting procedures are more exact than those using only
one parameter. Here, two parameter are taken out of the given signal (e.g. load
amplitude and mean value). Consequently, the loss of information is reduced.
The result of such procedures is recorded in matrix-form with the two
parameters defining the matrix or half-matrix. The counting result is put into the
matrix.
If a half matrix is in use, the information about the direction of the cycle (risingfalling or falling-rising) gets lost.
The most important methods are:

All information provided by 1D-procedures can be taken from 2D-procedures.

Hence, it is recommended to analyse signals with 2D-methods, even if some
information is not required for the following steps (e.g. limited influence of the
mean stress on the calculation of durability)
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2.1.4.1 Transition Counting

Transition counting describes the analysis using the start point and the end
point of an edge.
Counting starts at an extremal value. Start class and end class define the field
in the transition matrix. As a convention, rising edges have to be recorded
above the diagonal while falling edges will be entered below the diagonal.
For an experienced engineer the matrix gives much information than just the
number of load cycles:

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2.1.4.1 Transition Counting

1
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8

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2.1.4.2 Rainflow Counting

For the rainflow counting closed loops have to be detected. Therefore
the minima and maxima have to be marked. The name rainflow has
been chosen because the flow of water along the rotated signal
simplifies understanding:

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2.1.4.2 Rainflow Counting

Rainflow counting correlates with the understanding of fatique. Hence, this
method is often used to describe the damage behaviour of components

Note: all points are lying on the line. Here, some of them are next to the line in
order to show the hysteresis

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2.1.4.2 Rainflow Counting

points

classes

ade

8-1-8

bcb

3-4-3

ehi

8-2-8

fgf

7-8-7

ilm

8-1-8

jkj

5-7-5

nmq

8-2-8

opo

4-3-4

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2
3
4
5
6
7
8

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2.1.5 Comparision of Counting Procedures

All counting procedures limit the amount of data significantly and enable
following investigations. The raw data is compressed to a table/matrix with load
cycle numbers.

For all methods a loss of information has to be accepted. The selection for a
counting procedure has to be done under consideration of the needs and the
losses. The following information is provided by the counting procedure:
item

level crossing counting

range pair counting

transition counting

rainflow counting

minima

maxima

mean values

amplitudes

orientation

sequence

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2.1.6 Commercial Systems

Range Pair Counting

SWIFT
Gesellschaft fr Messwerterfassungs-Systeme mbH
info@swift-online.de
www.swift-online.de
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Rainflow Counting

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