A Broad Transfer Learning Algorithm for Classification of Bearing Faults

Abstract Condition monitoring and fault diagnosis are of great interest to the manufacturing industry. Deep learning algorithms have shown promising results in equipment prognostics and health management. However, their success has been hindered by excessive training time. In addition, deep learning algorithms face the domain adaptation dilemma encountered in dynamic application environments. The emerging concept of broad learning addresses the training time and the domain adaptation issue. In this paper, a broad transfer learning algorithm is proposed for the classification of bearing faults. Data of the same frequency is used to construct one- and two-dimensional training data sets to analyze performance of the broad transfer and deep learning algorithms. A broad learning algorithm contains two main layers, an augmented feature layer and a classification layer. The broad learning algorithm with a sparse auto-encoder is employed to extract features. The optimal solution of a redefined cost function with a limited sample size to ten per class in the target domain offers the classifier of broad learning domain adaptation capability. The effectiveness of the proposed algorithm has been demonstrated on a benchmark dataset. Computational experiments have demonstrated superior efficiency and accuracy of the proposed algorithm over the deep learning algorithms tested.