The Difference Between RMS, Peak and Peak to Peak

Amplitudes
Again, all data is collected as an "RMS" value ("Root Mean Square"). That is
an ISO convention and applies no matter what manufacturer's collector you
may have.
The "RMS" value is calculated by simply multiplying the peak amplitude
(shown in the graphic below) by 0.707:
RMS = Peak x 0.707

But is that technically correct

?

o Technically, the RMS

value of a pure sinusoid
is equal to the area
under the half-wave.
o That corresponds to
(peak x 0.707) on a
pure sinusoid.
o Pure sinusoids are
rarely encountered in
the world of mechanical
vibration.
o Due to that, the trend
amplitude value is
calculated by simply
multiplying the peak
amplitude by 0.707.

But some analysts prefer to display the amplitudes as a 'peak' amplitude

(usually because the vibration severity charts they are using are in peak
amplitude values). So how is that value calculated ?

 To calculate the 'Peak' amplitude, we divide the RMS value by 0.707.

 For those of you paying close attention, you may have noticed that,
from start to finish, the way a peak amplitude is calculated is:
o Measure the peak amplitude.
 o Multiply by 0.707 to obtain the RMS value.
o Divide by 0.707 to obtain the Peak value.

In some cases - specifically the use of displacement amplitudes where the

analyst wants the total amount of bearing movement back and forth - the
'Peak to Peak' value is desired by the analyst. In that case, the peak value
is simply multiplied by 2. Velocity and acceleration units are not typically
displayed as peak to peak since the important piece of information is what
the maximum (peak) value is.
So let's summarize:

 The highest (peak) value of collected data is multiplied by 0.707 to

obtain the ISO standard of RMS amplitude. The majority of programs
world-wide use this value.
 For those programs that wish to display the data as a 'peak' value, the
RMS value is then divided by 0.707 to obtain the peak amplitude.
 For those situations where peak to peak amplitudes are desired, the
peak amplitude is simply multiplied by 2.

Summary: It doesn't matter which value you use - RMS or Peak - so long as
you are CONSISTENT (another very important convention) !! Amplitude is,
after all, simply a number from which we make certain generalizations
about the machine condition. There is no exact, precise number above
which disaster awaits and below which you are safe.
Be aware of the conversion if comparing values between programs that use
RMS and Peak values. This applies to spectrum plots as well.
Now let's look at the vibration sensors - transducers.