An optimized extreme learning machine-based novel model for bearing fault classification

This work addresses the rolling element bearing (REB) fault classification problem by tackling the issue of identifying the appropriate parameters for the extreme learning machine (ELM) and enhancing its effectiveness. This study introduces a memetic algorithm (MA) to identify the optimal ELM parameter set for compact ELM architecture alongside better ELM performance. The goal of using MA is to investigate the promising solution space and systematically exploit the facts in the viable solution space. In the proposed method, the local search method is proposed along with link-based and node-based genetic operators to provide a tight ELM structure. A vibration data set simulated from the bearing of rotating machinery has been used to assess the performance of the optimized ELM with the REB fault categorization problem. The complexity involved in choosing a promising feature set is eliminated because the vibration data has been transformed into kurtograms to reflect the input of the model. The experimental results demonstrate that MA efficiently optimizes the ELM to improve the fault classification accuracy by around 99.0% and reduces the requirement of hidden nodes by 17.0% for both data sets. As a result, the proposed scheme is demonstrated to be a practically acceptable and well-organized solution that offers a compact ELM architecture in comparison to the state-of-the-art methods for the fault classification problem.