Abstract: In view of structural faults that occurred during operation of linear vibrating screen in coal preparation plant, the method combining finite element simulation and field test was used to analyze and study the cause of faults of vibrating screen. The main structure and common faults of vibrating screen are introduced, taking the vibrating screen with beam fracture in a coal preparation plant as an example, three-dimensional modeling and finite element modal analysis are carried out on the vibrating screen. Analysis results show that with the increase of the mode order, the change of the vibration shape gradually changes from the movement to distortion of the structure itself. Vibration test by intrinsically safe portable vibration measuring recorder is performed on the vibrating screen under no-load working state and the test signal is processed to obtain working frequency of the vibrating screen. Combined with the modal analysis results and the actual test results, it is concluded that frequent operation of the vibrating screen during no-load is the main reason for beam fracture. Maintenance suggestions are given according to the fault cause: the vibrating screen should be avoided to run for a long time under the condition of no load or less material; before the vibrating screen is put into use, the working state and possible weak links of the vibrating screen should be known in advance to avoid structural fault as much as possible and to ensure the reliable operation of the vibrating screen.