In-situ wireless monitoring of engine bearings

A gas turbine engine bearing monitoring system comprising:

• a rotatable shaft coupling a portion of a compressor section with a portion of a turbine section;
• a bearing assembly disposed within a bearing compartment supporting rotation of the rotatable shaft, the bearing assembly including a fixed portion and a rotatable portion;
• a piezoelectric element mounted to the fixed portion, the piezoelectric element generating an electric signal in response to a vibration of the fixed portion;
• and
• a first transceiver disposed within the bearing compartment and electrically coupled to the piezoelectric element to receive the electrical signal generated by the piezoelectric element and generate an output signal indicative of the vibration of the fixed portion.

A method of monitoring a bearing assembly, the method comprising:

• generating an electric signal indicative of vibration of a bearing element with a piezoelectric element mounted to a fixed support within a bearing compartment;
• communicating the electric signal to a first transceiver disposed within the bearing compartment and generating a first output signal indicative of a sensed vibration of the bearing element;
• communicating the first output signal to a second transceiver disposed outside the bearing compartment;
• and
• determining a bearing fault condition with a controller based on the communicated first output signal.