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Root Mean Square (RMS) and Overall Level

2019-8-29 • Knowledge

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There are several different ways that the term Root Mean Square (RMS) is

used.

This article will go over the following:

RMS Amplitude Format: How the equivalent energy of a sine wave is

expressed in a spectrum

RMS of a Spectrum: A representation of the overall energy in a spectrum –

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Root Mean Square (RMS) and Overall Level
gy p

often called the overall level

Tracked RMS / Tracked Overall Level: Tracking the RMS of each average

against a tracking parameter to see how the energy content changes

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RMS in Simcenter Testlab

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RMS Amplitude Format:

Amplitude formats describe how the amplitude of a sine wave is expressed in a

spectrum.

The RMS amplitude format is valuable because it indicates the equivalent

steady state energy value of an oscillating signal.

For example, a sine wave (like a pressure wave) oscillates above and below

zero Pascal. The average value of the wave is zero. This is not a good

representation of the effective energy of the wave. To get a better

understanding of the equivalent steady state value, the RMS is used.

Figure 1: The RMS value is the equivalent steady state value of an oscillating

signal. The red is the actual signal. The blue represents the perceived signal.

The RMS amplitude format is calculated by squaring the peak amplitude (A) of

the sine wave, diving it by two, and then taking the square root of that

quantity. For a single sine wave, the RMS amplitude can be represented as

0.707*A.

Equation 1: Calculating RMS value of a single sine wave.

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Look at the spectrum below. The curves are the exact same data but expressed

with different amplitude formats. The black curve is expressed in peak format.
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The pink curve is expressed in RMS format. Notice that all amplitude levels of

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the pink curve are below (/s/groups)
the black curve Blogs
(Figure (https://blogs.sw.siemens.com/)
2).

In the zoomed in section, each spectral line is represented by a cross. When

converting to RMS amplitude format, each spectral line is multiplied by

~0.707. For example, the spectral line at 694Hz has a peak amplitude of

1.000g. This corresponds to a RMS amplitude of 0.707g.

Figure 2: The same spectral data can be displayed with different amplitude

formats. In the zoomed area, each spectral line is represented by a cross.

Notice that the peak spectral lines are multiplied by a fixed factor of ~0.707 to

get the RMS values.

The RMS amplitude format is used to represent the equivalent steady state

value of a sine wave at each spectral line.

RMS of a Spectrum:

Often, an RMS value of a spectrum is desired to be calculated. The RMS of a

spectrum is a single number that represents the overall level of energy across a

frequency range.

In the graphic below, the RMS of the spectrum is 54.08g.

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Figure 3: The RMS vibration level of the spectrum is 54.08g.

To calculate the RMS of a spectrum, the root sum square of all the spectral

lines within the frequency range of interest must be calculated.

Equation 2: Equation for calculating the RMS of a spectrum.

The “A” term in the above equation represents the amplitude of a spectral line.

It is important that this amplitude (A) value is in RMS format and has window

correction factors taken into consideration (more about this below).

A_0 is the first spectral line under consideration, A_k is the last spectral line

under consideration.

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Figure 4: A frequency spectrum in which the terms from Equation 2 are

displayed. The frequency range of interest is f_1 to f_2.

There are some important considerations that must be taken to ensure the

calculated RMS value is correct:

1. The individual spectral line values (A) must be in Linear format. If the units

were squared or power units, they must be squared rooted before performing

the calculation. For example, an autopower of sound pressure with units of

Pa2 must be square rooted to units of Pa.

2. Each individual spectral line must be in RMS format for the calculation. No

matter what format is used for displaying the spectrum, RMS amplitude format

is used when calculating the RMS of the spectrum. The RMS calculation

produces the same result no matter how the spectrum is displayed.

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Figure 5: The spectrum can be displayed in any format, but the software will

change the format to RMS in the background for the calculation. The RMS
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calculation is the same no matter what amplitude format is used for

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3. Window correction factors may need to be applied to the spectrum. If a

window was used during acquisition, energy correction must be applied to the

spectrum. The usage of windows to compensate for leakage can cause

spectral lines to appear lower in amplitude / energy content than they really

are. To get appropriate values for RMS spectral energy, energy correction must

be applied.

Figure 6: Corrections must be applied so the amplitude of the windowed sine

wave more closely matches the amplitude of the original sine wave.

In the case of energy correction, spectral lines with a Hanning window are

multiplied by 1.633. Spectral lines with a Flattop window are multiplied by

2.225.

The RMS calculation has a pre-requisite of linear, RMS, energy corrected

l
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values.

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Figure 7: The RMS value calculated in Simcenter Testlab can be displayed in

the curve legend.

The RMS value calculated in Simcenter Testlab will automatically convert data

to energy, RMS, and linear values "behind the scenes", regardless of how it is

displayed in the software interface. This ensures consistent values for RMS

calculations.

Users who want to manually calculate RMS must take these elements into

consideration.

Tracked Overall Level:

The RMS value of a spectrum is often called the overall level. The overall level

can be tracked versus speed or time to see how the amount of energy in the

signal changes.

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Figure 8: The overall level of a sound recording versus RPM.

When recording an event that is changing, it is often preferred to track the

event on time or RPM. This means that for every increment of time or RPM a

spectrum is calculated.

In the below example, a spectrum is calculated every 25 rpm between 3500

RPM and 4000 RPM. The overall level (RMS) for each of these spectrums is

calculated.

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Figure 9: A spectrum is calculated every 25 RPM. The RMS for each spectrum is

also calculated.

Then, these RMS values are plotted vs. RPM. This way, it is possible to see

which RPM values have especially high (or higher than expected) energy

content.

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Figure 10: The RMS and RPM values are plotted against one another. These

values are the same as Table 1 in Figure 9. There is a data point every 25 RPM
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(represented by the crosses).

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RMS in Simcenter Testlab:

This section will cover:

Changing Amplitude Format in Simcenter Testlab

Calculating the RMS of a frequency spectrum

Calculating the RMS over a specific frequency range

Calculating Tracked Overall Level in Testlab

Changing Amplitude Format in Simcenter Testlab:

To change the amplitude format in Simcenter Testlab (/s/article/simcenter-

testlab), right lick on the y-axis of the plot, select “Processing” and then choose

an amplitude format under “Spectrum & Section Scaling”.

Figure 11: It is possible to change the amplitude format in Simcenter Testlab.

Calculating the RMS of a frequency spectrum:

To calculate the RMS of a spectrum in Simcenter Testlab, right click on the

legend and choose “Options”.

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Figure 12: Open the “Options…” window.

Next, calculate the RMS of the spectrum by selecting RMS in the “Calculated

Content” tab, and the clicking the “Add to selection” arrow. Additionally, the

Unit Label can be turned on in the lower right.

Figure 13: Add RMS to the Calculated Content.

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The RMS value of the entire spectrum will now be displayed in the legend.

Amplitude format and energy corrections are applied in the background as

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Figure 14: The RMS will be displayed in the plot legend.

Calculating the RMS over a specific frequency range:

Alternatively, the RMS value over a smaller frequency range can also be

calculated.

Add a double cursor (https://community.sw.siemens.com/s/article/simcenter-

testlab-the-versatile-double-x-cursor) to the plot and position the cursor over a

range of values.

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Figure 15: Access the cursor menu by right clicking on the whitespace of the

plot.

Then, right click on the cursor, and select Calculations -> RMS.

Figure 16: Right click on the cursor to access the calculations menu.

The RMS value of the content between the cursors will be calculated and

displayed in the cursor legend.

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Figure 17: The RMS value is displayed in the cursor legend.

Calculating Tracked Overall Level in Testlab:

To calculate a tracked overall level in Simcenter Testlab, ensure the

measurement mode is set to “Tracked”.

Figure 18: Set the “Measurement mode” to “Tracked”.

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Root Mean Square (RMS) and Overall Level

In the Section Settings dialog, make sure that “Overall level” is checked on

under the “Overall Level” tab.

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Figure 19: Check on the “Overall level” box.

The data will be saved in the Overall Level folder within the Sections folder.

Figure 20: The overall level will be saved into the sections folder and then the

overall level folder.

Conclusion:

It is important to understand the difference between RMS amplitude format

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It is important to understand the difference between RMS amplitude format,

the RMS of a spectrum, and the tracked RMS.

RMS amplitude format represents the equivalent steady state value of a sine

wave in a spectrum.
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The RMS value of an entire spectrum represents the overall energy level. This
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value can be tracked to better understand how it changes.

Questions? Post to this article, or email [email protected]

(mailto:[email protected]), or contact Siemens Support

Center (https://support.sw.siemens.com/en-US/about).

Related Links

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What is Fourier Transform? (/s/article/what-is-the-fourier-transform)

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Autopower Function...Demystified! (/s/article/the-autopower-function-

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Overlap: What, Why and How to Use It (/s/article/Overlap-What-Why-and-

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Kevin Grenier (/s/profile/0051300000BH6nMAAT) (Siemens Employee)

January 5, 2018 at 7:25 PM (/s/feed/0D54O000061wgoxSAA)

Hello Roy, I believe your questions are getting too specific for this Knowledge Base or Forum.

These questions are best left to your local cusomer services team because you can provide your data, they can

explain the FAQ and then show the steps in Excel. As I stated there are many things that concern how the RMS

calculation is done.

Please reach out to them as they are really the best resource to assist.

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RoyDuan (/s/profile/0054O000007xsVeQAI)

January 4, 2018 at 2:08 PM (/s/feed/0D54O000061wgTtSAI)

Hi Kevin,

I still have some doubts about this three questions.

1. The two equations is very similar but not the same. And from the statements ,both for the spectrum RMS.

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Kevin Grenier (/s/profile/0051300000BH6nMAAT) (Siemens Employee)

January 4, 2018 at 1:25 PM (/s/feed/0D54O000061wemHSAQ)

Hello Roy,

1. All customers on maintenance have access to the Global Technical Assistance Center. Using the sold-to and

Web Access Code (WAC) located at the top of each license file generated in the last 3 years will be this

information. You can use this information to create a personal Webkey (login) to the GTAC site. Please reach

out to your local customers services team for assistance. Or call the support line shown at

www.siemens.com/gtac (http://www.siemens.com/gtac) for your region. I cannot share information from the

GTAC site in this forum.

2. The RMS calculation depends on many things which the FAQ addresses: What function was used (spectrum,

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User16887302759553920719 (/s/profile/0054O00000AW97kQAD)

3 months ago

Hey everyone,

I'm no expert, but I'll share my thoughts on this topic. The first point about accessing the Global

Technical Assistance Center seems straightforward if you have your license file details handy. It's

great that you're pointing people in the right direction for support, but I can understand why you

can't share GTAC info here.

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RoyDuan (/s/profile/0054O000007xsVeQAI)
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January 4, 2018 at 11:30 AM (/s/feed/0D54O000061wgonSAA)

Hi Kevin,

Thank you for your reply.

1. I cannot have access to the Solution center of GTAC as you mentioned. I don't know the reason. Could you

show me the related information?

2. The spectrum RMS calculation equation in the Functions.pdf you showed was different from equaciton 2 in

this page. Why?

3. RMS is a measure of energy in a signal. How to understand why the lines in the beginning and end should

be half?

4. How to calculate RMS from a 1/3 Octave spectrum?

Roy

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Kevin Grenier (/s/profile/0051300000BH6nMAAT) (Siemens Employee)

January 3, 2018 at 1:02 PM (/s/feed/0D54O000061wgpCSAQ)

Hello Roy,

The RMS calculation is defined pretty well by an FAQ on the Global Technical Assistance Center (GTAC). If you

log into GTAC (www.siemens.com/gtac (http://www.siemens.com/gtac)) then the FAQ will be located under

the Solution center at: https://solutions.industrysoftware.automation.siemens.com/view.php?

sort=desc&q=RMS&dt=faq&pd=lms-test-lab&file_type=pdf&i=lms-FAQ403&k=11&o=0

(https://solutions.industrysoftware.automation.siemens.com/view.php?sort=desc&q=RMS&dt=faq&pd=lms-

test-lab&file_type=pdf&i=lms-FAQ403&k=11&o=0)

This is from the Functions.pdf theory document provided with LMS Test.Lab under the Documentation\ Theory

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RoyDuan (/s/profile/0054O000007xsVeQAI)
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January 3, 2018 at 2:55 AM (/s/feed/0D54O000061wgoYSAQ)

1. In equation 2 about calculating RMS of a spectrum, how to understand the first and the last spectrum line

amplitude square should be devided by two (A0^2/2, Ak^2/2)? May be the start and end spectrum range not

coincide with spectrum line.

2. How to calculate RMS of a 1/3 CPB spectrum?

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