VectoraLab Lab

Crest Factor = Peak / RMS A dimensionless ratio indicating signal impulsivity. Useful for early-stage bearing fault detection. Typical Values: • Healthy sinusoidal signal: CF = √2 ≈ 1.41 • Healthy random vibration: CF ≈ 2.5–3.5 • Early bearing fault: CF = 4–6 • Developed bearing fault: CF > 6 • Note: CF may actually decrease in severe, late-stage faults as the noise floor rises with RMS Advantages: • Simple and fast to compute • Good early indicator of impacts Limitations: • One stray impact can elevate CF falsely • As bearing fault progresses, CF can decrease • Must trend over time, not rely on single reading • Combine with kurtosis and envelope analysis Important: CF > 4 is an investigation trigger, not a fault confirmation.