In this paper, the author presents the possibility of using phase trajectory for detecting damage in an axial piston pump. The wear on main part of pump elements, such as the rotor and the valve plate, was investigated, and phase trajectories were determined based on vibration signal measured in three directions on the pump's body. In order to obtain a quantitative measure of the analyzed trajectory, the At_{p,i} parameter was introduced, and the relation between this parameter and the wear on the pump's parts was determined.

The possibility of distinguishing and assessing the influences of defects in particular pump elements by registering vibration signals at characteristic points of the pump body would be a valuable way for obtaining diagnostic information. An effective tool facilitating this task could be a well designed and identified dynamic model of the pump. When applied for a specific type of the pump, such model could additionally help to improve its construction. This paper presents model of axial piston positive displacement pump worked out by the authors. After taking the simplifying assumptions and dividing the pump into three sets of elements, it was possible to build a discrete dynamic model with 13 degrees of freedom. According to the authors' intention, the developed dynamic model of the multi-piston pump should be used for damage simulation in its individual elements. By gradual change in values of selected construction parameters of the object (for example: stiffness coefficients, damping coefficients), it is possible to perform simulation of wear in the pump. Initial verification of performance of the created model was done to examine the effect of abrasive wear on the swash plate surface. The phase trajectory runs estimated at characteristics points of the pump body were used as a useful tool to determine wear of pump elements.

Axial piston pumps with constant pressure and variable flow have extraordinary possibilities for controlling the flow by change of pressure. Owing to pressure feedback, volumetric control of the pump provides a wide application of these pumps in complex hydraulic systems, particularly in aeronautics and space engineering. Mathematical modeling is the first phase in defining the conception of a design and it has been carried out at the beginning of the project. Next very important phase is the check-out of the characteristics at the physical model when the pump has been produced. Optimal solution to the hydropump design has been reached by thorough analysis of the parameters obtained at the physical model by means of the simulation results of the mathematical model. The paper presents the possibilities for selecting the most influential parameters, their correction for certain values, and eventually the simulation at the mathematical model which shows the change of hydropump performances. After all these analyses, appropriate changes are made in design documentation which will serve for prototype production. Finally, when all kinds of tests are done at the prototypes along with fine adjustment of design solution, the series production of hydropump will be organized.