Published: 31 December 2016

Analytical model for nonlinear vibration of flexible rotor system

Min Wu1
Shengbo Yang2
Dongjiang Han3
Daren Yu4
Jinfu Yang5
1, 2, 4School of Energy Science and Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, China
3, 5Institute of Engineering Thermophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
Corresponding Author:
Min Wu
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Abstract

An analytical model is proposed to analyze a series of typical nonlinear behaviors of flexible rotor system, such as resonance, oscillation, whirl and whip. The model is constructed by introducing a defined nonlinear scale factor ε, nonlinear stiffness and nonlinear damping. Based on multi-scale method, the analytical solutions of steady-state and transient-state are derived, and the nonlinear natural frequency and Frequency Response Equation (FRE) are obtained. A transient time scale factor t1 is defined to reflect the transient-state influence on steady-state solution. The experimental result also verifies the rationality and validity of the analytical model and the analytical solutions.

1. Introduction

Rotating machinery, as the core device of a dynamic system provides power and a series of necessary functions, which is widely used in aerospace industry, ship engineering and distributed energy resource in the modern time. Focus on the development of high-speed miniature equipments, the primary perspective is to enhance rotational speed, system power, thrust-weight ratio, and even to achieve integration, intelligence. In this context, the stability of a rotor system becomes vital to meet the requirements of high performance and long service. As the rotational speed increases, instability phenomenon caused by nonlinear vibrations can occur easily, which require more efficient stability analysis methods and engineering applications [1].

Generally, a rotor system is composed of rotor, bearing, shaft and sealing elements. The system responses to external excitations can be divided into three modes, linear dominant mode, nonlinear dominant mode and mixed mode. The linear vibration method is often used in traditional rotor dynamic researches while the nonlinear responses are not obvious. In conventional engineering, reasonable linearization can significantly reduce the difficulties of analysis and calculations, which makes linear rotor dynamic theory be fully developed and widely used [2]. On the contrary, when system presents obvious nonlinear behaviors, the magnitude of nonlinear responses will greater than the linear ones, which can lead to a series of nonlinear phenomenon, such as harmonic resonance, subharmonic resonance, ultraharmonic resonance, quasi-period, bifurcation, chaos for single degree of freedom (DOF) system and combination resonance additionally for multiple DOF system [3]. When the magnitudes of nonlinear and linear responses are the same, namely mixed mode, the nonlinear responses caused by interaction cannot be ignored, which may need other efficient methods, such as decoupling approach.

Many scholars made important research progresses. Lund model [4] was proposed in 1965 for the first time by solving Reynold’s equations using perturbation method. Considering both rotor and bearing, Lund presented an equation with 8 coefficients of linearized stiffness and damping force equivalent to the oil film force, which could be solved based on linear stability theory. According to the linearized oil film force model, the eigenvalue of the homogeneous equation can be used to calculate the speed threshold of system instability. Glienicke [5] presented a more systematic theoretical and experimental study of Lund model. A series of linearized equivalence of oil film force are established based on Lund’s theory. If the rotor whirl trajectory becomes ellipse, Lund model can be simplified into Alford model [6], in which the 8 coefficients can be simplified into principal terms and cross terms. Alford model presumed that cross stiffness and principal damping are the key factors to the instability problems of rotor system. The former’s increase can weaken system stability, but the latter’s is the opposite. Hori [7] studied the stability of rotor system. Ehrich [8] studied the effect of Alford force on the self-excited vibration. Based on short bearing theory, Childs [9] introduced added mass so as to describe the sealing fluid exciting force more accurately, and considered sealing fluid circumferential speed which Alford model ignored. In 1987, Muszynska and Bently [10, 11] defined fluid circumferential average velocity ratio to be the key parameter which could reflect oil film dynamic characteristics based on a large number of experiment data. Muszynska model can explain the instability mechanism of oil film for a high-speed rotor system, and especially describe the relationship of oil film cross stiffness (which causes instability), average velocity ratio, rotational speed and external damping. Ravikovich [12] studied whirl and whip caused by nonlinear factors of oil film force, and the influence on power and efficiency losses.

The problem of linear dominant mode can be dealt with the linear theory. However, when it comes to nonlinear dominant and mixed modes, the nonlinear responses usually cannot be represented accurately [13] by classic models based on linear theory, especially in response mechanism, rationality and reliability analysis. Moreover, both of the mechanism analysis and the reliability analysis cannot achieve the engineering requirements. Therefore, in this paper we propose an analytical model of a high-speed flexible rotor system, which can inherit and develop the traditional linear models, and analyze a series of typical nonlinear behaviors in the nonlinear dominant and mixed modes. The analytical solutions are also presented via multi-scale method, and then verified with experiment result.

2. Model formulation

As shown in Fig. 1, the rotor system is considered as a single-span rotor supported by force F, which can be divided into stiffness force and damping force. Noticing that, the force F', which is perpendicular to F and caused by sealing force, is not considered in this paper, so that we can formulate this model with single DOF instead of the traditional crossing two DOF. By introducing nonlinear Hooke’s law and nonlinear damping force, we can construct nonlinear analytical model with single DOF.

Fig. 1Dynamic analysis for a rotor

Dynamic analysis for a rotor

2.1. Nonlinear stiffness

From the perspective of elastic theory, based on the hypothesis of small perturbation and deformation, traditional model for representing flexible rotor behaviors can be generally satisfied with Hooke’s law. However, under the circumstances of large perturbation or deformation, the elastic potential energy of one-dimensional system [14] can be expressed as:

1
U(x)=12kx2+13ξx3+14ηx4+.

For engineering practice, the potential energy of many structures can be considered as symmetry [15]. Thus, the even order terms of Eq. (1) are retained:

2
Ux=12kx2+14ηx4.

The stiffness force fk, namely the elastic force, is expressed as:

3
fk=-dUdx=-kx-ηx3.

where k is the coefficient of linear elastic deformation, namely stiffness, η is the coefficient of nonlinear elastic deformation. If η= 0, Eq. (3) satisfies the linear Hooke’s law, namely linear spring characteristics. If η> 0, fk increases along with deformation increasing, namely hard spring characteristics. On the contrary, if η< 0, fk decreases along with deformation increasing, namely soft spring characteristics [16].

2.2. Nonlinear damping

Generally, the damping dissipation process of non-conservative system [17] can be given as:

4
mx¨+qx˙+kx=0.

Thus, the damping force is described as a generalized form:

5
qx˙=-cx˙n-1x˙, n=0,1,2,....

If n= 0, Eq. (5) represents dry friction force. If n= 1, Eq. (5) represents linear viscous damping force, which is applied to low-speed movement in fluid. If n= 2, Eq. (5) represents nonlinear viscous damping force, which is applied to high-speed movement [18]. Thus, the damping force fc is expressed as:

6
fc=-cx˙-γx˙2,

where c represents linear damping, γ is the coefficient of nonlinear damping.

2.3. Analytical model

Considering the single-span single-disc rotor system shown in Fig. 1, the parameters are as follows, m for disc mass, r for eccentricity, Ω for rotational frequency. And shaft mass is ignored, counterclockwise is positive. For general liquid or gas bearing, there is interaction of support and whirl, due to wedge flow characteristics. In this context, we consider only bearing supporting effect, so that based on Newton’s second law, equation of motion in the x-axis direction can be described as:

7
md2xCdt2=-kx-ηx3-cx˙-γx˙2,

where:

8
xC=x+rcosΩt.

For briefness and clarity, some substitutions are given as:

9
μ=c2m,εβ02=ηm,ω02=km,εα02=γm,

where μ is linear damping coefficient, ω0 is natural frequency, β0 is nonlinear stiffness amplification coefficient, α0 is nonlinear damping amplification coefficient, ε is the nonlinear scale factor which denotes the impact of nonlinear responses of rotor system.

Then, the analytical model for nonlinear vibration of flexible rotor system can be written as:

10
x¨+2μx˙+εα02x˙2+ω02x+εβ02x3=Ω2rcosΩt.

Noticing that, Eq. (10) has a similar form with Duffing equation [19], in which x3 term is used to describe nonlinear elastic restoring force. Numerous researches show that the response characteristics of complex rotor system is consistent with the analysis of single DOF Duffing equation in many respects, such as period-doubling bifurcation, Hopf bifurcation, period-3 bifurcation, enter/exit chaos phenomenon [20].

This analytical model Eq. (10) deals with centrifugal force generated by unbalanced mass, essentially not as the same as Muszynska model, which aims to deal with the clearance force caused by sealing fluid (that is why the negative sign exists as a reaction force in Eq. (11), which is different from that in Eq. (10) as an action force). If the nonlinear scale factor ε is very small, the nonlinear terms can be neglected. Then considering linear interaction of stiffness and damping, i.e., cross stiffness and cross damping force, Eq. (10) can be transformed into Muszynska model [11]:

11
-FxFy=k-mfτ2ω2τωc-τωck-mfτ2ω2xy+c2τωmf-2τωmfcx˙y˙+mf00mfx¨y¨.

On this basis, if ignore inertial force, and substitute coefficients for simple letters, Eq. (11) can be simplified as Alford model [6]:

12
-FxFy=k1k2-k2k1xy+c1c2-c2c1x˙y˙.

Apparently, if the cross damping force is not considered, Eq. (11) can be simplified as Ravikovich model [12]:

13
mx¨+2cx˙+2kxxx+2kxyy=-mrω2sinωt,
my¨+2cy˙+2kyyy+2kyxx=-mrω2cosωt,

where F is excitation force, k is stiffness, c is damping, τ is fluid circumferential average velocity ratio, mf is inertial mass, ω is rotational speed, m is mass, r is eccentricity, in Eq. (11-13).

Fig. 2Schematic of linear response and nonlinear response

Schematic of linear response and nonlinear response

Apparently, these models mentioned above used cross terms to describe nonlinear characteristics indirectly. In this paper, the analytical model introduces nonlinear stiffness force and nonlinear damping force instead of cross terms, i.e., Eq. (3) and Eq. (6), to directly describe the nonlinear effects with clear physical significance, and then to do further research on the interaction of linear and nonlinear forces, and the mechanism of nonlinear dynamic responses under the conditions of large displacement and high speed. Fig. 2 shows the linear and nonlinear response characteristics in frequency domain.

3. Analytical solutions and analysis

3.1. Free vibration mode

Multi-scale method can calculate both of the steady-state response and the transient-state response. In order to represent different time scales, Tn is introduced and defined as:

14
Tn=εnt, n=0,1,2,....

Then, a nonlinear response can be written as a function of various time scales:

15
x=n=0mεnxnT0,T1,T2,...,Tm,

where n depends on the calculation accuracy.

When an external excitation does not exist, the free vibration mode of the analytical model can be expressed as:

16
x¨+2μx˙+εα02x˙2+ω02x+εβ02x3=0.

Based on multi-scale method, we suppose:

17
x=x0T0,T1+εx1T0,T1,

where:

18
T0=t, T1=εt.

Thus:

19
x˙=x0T0+εx0T1+εx1T0+ε2x1T1,
x¨=2x0T02+2ε2x0T0T1+ε22x0T12+ε2x1T02+2ε22x1T0T1+ε32x1T12.

Then, according to the power orders of ε, there are:

20
ε0:D02x0+2μD0x0+ω02x0=0,
21
ε1:D02x1+2μD0x1+ω02x1=-2D0D1x0-2μD1x0-α02D0x02-β02x03,

where Dn (n= 0, 1) is the partial differential operator. The solution of Eq. (20) is:

22
x0=CT1er1T0+C-T1er-1T0, r1=-μ+jω02-μ2,

where C is an unknown complex function, the overline represents the conjugate function. Take Eq. (22) into Eq. (21), we have:

23
D02x1+2μD0x1+ω02x1=-2D1Cr1+μ+3β02C2C-e-2μT0er1T0
-α02CC-r1r-1e-2μT0-α02C2r12e2r1T0-β02C3e3r1T0+cc,

where cc represents the conjugate functions of each term before. The coefficient of first term er1T0 must be zero to avoid duration term. At any point without acceleration, T0=0, so e-2μT0=1. There is:

24
2D1C(μ+r1)+3β02C2C-=0.

Assuming:

25
C=12aejφ,

where a and φ are the functions of T1. According to the real part and the imaginary part respectively, C can be obtained:

26
C=12a0ej3β02a028ω02-μ2T1+jφ0,

where a0, φ0 are the integration constants. Take Eq. (26) and Eq. (22) into Eq. (23), x1 can be solved, then the solution x is:

27
x=12a0e-μt+jω02-μ2t+j3εβ02a028ω02-μ2t+jφ0-14εα02a02e-2μt
+εα02a022μ2-ω02-2jμω02-μ24-4μ2+3ω02+4jμω02-μ2e-2μt+2jω02-μ2t+j3εβ02a024ω02-μ2t+2jφ0
+εβ02a0332-3μ2+2ω02+3jμω02-μ2e-3μt+3jω02-μ2t+j9εβ02a028ω02-μ2t+3jφ0+cc.

Thus, the natural frequency is:

28
ω=ω02-μ2+3εβ02a028ω02-μ2=ω02-μ2+3a028mω02-μ2η,

where the first term on the right side is linear natural frequency and the second is nonlinear natural frequency. Obviously, ω0, μ, β0 and η have an impact on the natural frequency but α0, γ does not.

3.2. Forced vibration mode

When the external excitation exists, for instance centrifugal force caused by unbalanced mass of the rotor, the forced vibration mode of analytical model can be expressed as:

29
x¨+2μx˙+εα02x˙2+ω02x+εβ02x3=Ω2rcosΩt.

Similarly, using multi-scale method, according to the power orders of ε, there are:

30
ε0:D02x0+2μD0x0+ω02x0=12Ω2rejΩT0+e-jΩT0,
31
ε1:D02x1+2μD0x1+ω02x1=-2D0D1x0-2μD1x0-α02D0x02-β02x03.

The solution of Eq. (30) is:

32
x0=CT1er1T0+C-T1er-1T0+QejΩT0+Q-e-jΩT0,
r1=-μ+jω02-μ2, Q=12Ω2rω02-Ω2+2jμΩ,

where C is an unknown complex function, the overline represents the conjugate function. Take Eq. (32) into Eq. (31), we have:

33
D02x1+2μD0x1+ω02x1=-2D1Cr1+μ+6β02CQQ+3β02C2C-e-2μT0er1T0
-α02QQ-Ω2-α02CC-r1r-1e-2μT0-3β02Q2Q-ejΩT0+α02Q2Ω2e2jΩT0-β02Q3e3jΩT0
-2jα02Cr1QΩer1T0+jΩT0+2jα02Cr1Q-Ωer1T0-jΩT0-6β02CC-Qe-2μT0+jΩT0
-3β02C2Qe2r1T0+jΩT0-3β02C2Q-e2r1T0-jΩT0-3β02CQ2er1T0+2jΩT0
-3β02CQ-2er1T0-2jΩT0-α02C2r12e2r1T0-β02C3e3r1T0+cc.

Similarly, to avoid duration term, the coefficient of first term er1T0 must be zero. At any point without acceleration, T0=0, so e-2μT0=1. There is:

34
2D1Cr1+μ+6β02CQQ-+3β02C2C-=0.

Take Eq. (25) into Eq. (34), according to the real part and the imaginary part respectively, C can be obtained.

35
C=12a0ej 6β02Ω4r2ω02-Ω22+4μ2Ω2+3β02a028ω02-μ2T1+jφ0,

where a0, φ0 are the integration constants. Take Eq. (35) and Eq. (32) into Eq. (33), x1 can be solved, then the solution x is:

x=12a0exp-μt+jω02-μ2t+j6εβ02Ω4r2ω02-Ω22+4μ2Ω2+3εβ02a028ω02-μ2t+jφ0
+12Ω2rω02-Ω2+2jμΩejΩt-14εα02a02e-2μt
-εα02Ω6r24ω02ω02-Ω22+4μ2Ω2-3εβ02Ω6r38ω02-Ω2+2jμΩ3ω02-Ω2-2jμΩejΩt
+εα02Ω6r24ω02-4Ω2+4jμΩω02-Ω2+2jμΩ2e2jΩt-3εβ02a02Ω2r4ω02-Ω22+4μ2Ω2e-2μt+jΩt
-εβ02Ω6r38ω02-9Ω2+6jμΩω02-Ω2+2jμΩ3e3jΩt-εα02a0Ω2rjμ+ω02-μ222ω02-μ2+Ωω02-Ω2+2jμΩ
×exp-μt+jω02-μ2t+jΩt+j6εβ02Ω4r2ω02-Ω22+4μ2Ω2+3εβ02a028ω02-μ2t+jφ0
-εα02a0Ω2rjμ+ω02-μ222ω02-μ2-Ωω02-Ω2-2jμΩ
×exp-μt+jω02-μ2t-jΩt+j6εβ02Ω4r2ω02-Ω22+4μ2Ω2+3εβ02a028ω02-μ2t+jφ0
+3εβ02a02Ω2rexp-2μt+2jω02-μ2t+jΩt+j6εβ02Ω4r2ω02-Ω22+4μ2Ω2+3εβ02a024ω02-μ2t+2jφ08-4μ2+3ω02+4jμω02-μ2+Ω2+2jμΩ+4Ωω02-μ2ω02-Ω2+2jμΩ
+3εβ02a02Ω2rexp-2μt+2jω02-μ2t-jΩt+j6εβ02Ω4r2ω02-Ω22+4μ2Ω2+3εβ02a024ω02-μ2t+2jφ08-4μ2+3ω02+4jμω02-μ2+Ω2-2jμΩ-4Ωω02-μ2ω02-Ω2-2jμΩ
+3εβ02a0Ω3r232ω02-μ2+Ωω02-Ω2+2jμΩ2
×exp-μt+jω02-μ2t+2jΩt+j6εβ02Ω4r2ω02-Ω22+4μ2Ω2+3εβ02a028ω02-μ2t+jφ0
+3εβ02a0Ω3r232-ω02-μ2+Ωω02-Ω2-2jμΩ2
×exp-μt+jω02-μ2t-2jΩt+j6εβ02Ω4r2ω02-Ω22+4μ2Ω2+3εβ02a028ω02-μ2t+jφ0
+εα02a022μ2-ω02-2jμω02-μ24-4μ2+3ω02+4jμω02-μ2
×exp-2μt+2jω02-μ2t+j6εβ02Ω4r2ω02-Ω22+4μ2Ω2+3εβ02a024ω02-μ2t+2jφ0
+εβ02a0332-3μ2+2ω02+3jμω02-μ2
×exp-3μt+3jω02-μ2t+j18εβ02Ω4r2ω02-Ω22+4μ2Ω2+9εβ02a028ω02-μ2t+3jφ0+cc.

To do further simplification, the solution x is:

36
x=A0cosΩt+θ0+A1cosΩt+θ1+A2cos2Ωt+θ2+A3cos3Ωt+θ3+A4
+a0e-μtcosφt+φ0+A01e-2μtcosΩt+A40e-2μt
+A11e-μtcosφ+Ωt+θ11+A11'e-μtcosφ-Ωt+θ11'
+A21e-2μtcos2φ+Ωt+θ21+A21'e-2μtcos2φ-Ωt+θ21'
+A12e-μtcosφ+2Ωt+θ12+A12'e-μtcosφ-2Ωt+θ12'
+A20e-2μtcos2φt+θ20+A30e-3μtcos3φt+θ30,

where:

37
A0=rλ2-12+δ2, A1=-3εβ024Ω2rA04, A2=εα022λ2-42+4δ2A02,
A3=-εβ024Ω2λ2-92+9δ2A03, A4=-εα022λ2A02, A01=-3εβ02a022Ω2rA02,
A11=-εα02a0λ4λ2-δ2+1A0, A12=3εβ02a08Ω24λ2-δ2+2A02,
A21=3εβ02a024Ω23λ2+1-δ2+24λ2-δ22+δ4λ2-δ2+δ2A0,
A20=εα02a02-2λ2+δ22+δ24λ2-δ243λ2-δ22+δ24λ2-δ2,
A30=εβ02a034Ω28λ2-3δ22+9δ24λ2-δ2,
A40=-12εα02a02, θ11=arctgδ4λ2-δ2+θ0+φ0, A11'=-εα02a0λ4λ2-δ2-1A0,
A21'=3εβ02a024Ω23λ2+1-δ2-24λ2-δ22+δ4λ2-δ2-δ2A0,
A12'=3εβ02a08Ω2-4λ2-δ2+2A02,
λ=ω0Ω, δ=2μΩ, φ=12Ω4λ2-δ2+3εβ022A02+a024Ω4λ2-δ2,
θ0=-arctgδλ2-1, θ1=2θ0, θ2=-arctg2δλ2-4+2θ0,
θ3=-arctg3δλ2-9+3θ0, θ21=-arctgδ4λ2-δ2+δ3λ2+1-δ2+24λ2-δ2+θ0+2φ0,
θ12=2θ0+φ0, θ20=-arctgδ4λ2-δ2-2λ2+δ2-arctgδ4λ2-δ23λ2-δ2+2φ0,
θ30=-arctg3δ4λ2-δ28λ2-3δ2+3φ0, θ11'=arctgδ4λ2-δ2-θ0+φ0,
θ21'=-arctgδ4λ2-δ2-δ3λ2+1-δ2-24λ2-δ2-θ0+2φ0, θ12'=-2θ0+φ0,

where λ is rotational speed ratio, δ is damping rotational speed ratio, Ai represents amplitude, θi represents phase. Eq. (36) is the complete expression of solution x, including steady-state and transient-state. When the time t is large enough, e-μt decays to 0 rapidly, so the transient-state solution vanishes. Then Eq. (36) degenerates into the steady-state solution as follows:

38
x=A0cosΩt+θ0+A1cosΩt+θ1+A2cos2Ωt+θ2+A3cos3Ωt+θ3+A4.

Notice that, when rotational speed changes with time, Eq. (36) and Eq. (38) are not satisfied with the basic assumption of Fourier transform, which requires amplitude and phase to be time-invariant. Therefore, short-time Fourier transform (STFT) can be used to obtain an approximate frequency-domain solution.

If nonlinear scale factor ε equals zero, A1=A2=A3=A4=0, then Eq. (38) degenerates into the traditional linear response A0cosΩt+θ0. The mechanism of nonlinear scale factor ε is fully clarified that the magnitude of ε reflects the degree of nonlinear influence, furthermore, it is also verifies the rationality and validity of the analytical model.

3.3. Frequency response equation (FRE)

Generally, under an external excitation caused by an unbalanced force, the linear response belongs to single fundamental frequency response, but the nonlinear response may include a series of harmonic responses. For general engineering applications, working frequency FRE is often used to analyze instability problems. Considering the first two terms on the right side of Eq. (38), according to wave superposition principle, there is:

39
A0cosΩt+θ0+A1cosΩt+θ1=AacosΩt+θa,

where:

40
Aa2=A02+A12+2A0A1cosθ0-θ1.

Assuming Aa=a, substituting A1 and θ1 of Eq. (37), we have:

41
a2=A02+9ε2β0416Ω4r2A08-3εβ022Ω2rA05cosθ0.

To simplify:

42
-916ε2β04A06+32εβ02ω02-Ω2A04+ω02-Ω22+4μ2Ω2a2=Ω4r2.

If A02=a2-9ε2β0416Ω4r2A08+3εβ022Ω2rA05cosθ0a2, the nonlinear FRE can be derived as:

43
-916ε2β04a6+32εβ02ω02-Ω2a4+ω02-Ω22+4μ2Ω2a2=Ω4r2.

Thus, it can help to explain why the working frequency FRE cannot reflect the nonlinear characteristics accurately, or even analyze some nonlinear problems efficiently in engineering applications. The comparison between experimental result and analytical solution is given below.

4. Experimental Facility and procedure

Table 1 shows the main parameters of the test rig.

Table 1Main parameters of the test rig

Relevant parameters
Values
Rotor material
40 Cr
Rotor mass
10.36 kg
Rotor length
698 mm
Bearing inner diameter
50 mm
Radial clearance
0.02 mm
Clearance ratio
0.0016
Shaft diameter
50 mm
Bearing length
60 mm
Thrust disc diameter
90 mm
Bearing span
525 mm

Fig. 3 [21] shows the schematic of the gas-bearing rotor system test rig, gas supply system, as well as the vibration signal acquisition and analysis system. The test rig has a single-stage radial turbine coaxial with a shaft driven by high-pressure air and maximum speed of 1.2×105 rpm. A screw-type air compressor provides high-pressure air with maximum pressure of 1.2 MPa and maximum mass flow of 3.90 kg/s. The airflow into the bearings is controlled by stabilizing valves and air regulators. A K-type thermocouple monitors the temperature of the supply gas. A calibrated mass flowmeter measures the mass flow rate into each bearing with an uncertainty of 0.195 kg/s. The regulators control the air pressure in proportion to the rotational speed in the speed-up process.

Fig. 3Layout of the rotor system test rig and gas supply system: 1) air compressor, 2) gas tank, 3) filter, 4) dryer, 5) pressure gauge, 6) thermometer, 7) flowmeter, 8) pressure stabilizing valve, 9) electro-pneumatic air regulator, 10) safety shut-off valve, 11) computer, 12) data acquisition instrument, 13) eddy current sensor

Layout of the rotor system test rig and gas supply system: 1) air compressor, 2) gas tank,  3) filter, 4) dryer, 5) pressure gauge, 6) thermometer, 7) flowmeter, 8) pressure stabilizing valve,  9) electro-pneumatic air regulator, 10) safety shut-off valve, 11) computer,  12) data acquisition instrument, 13) eddy current sensor

Two pairs of eddy current displacement sensors, which are orthogonally positioned near test bearings, are used to measure the rotor lateral vibration amplitudes along the X-horizontal and Y-vertical axis. An eddy current key phase sensor mounted at the free end of the rotor is used to measure the phase signal. The displacement range is of 1 mm. The linearity is of 10.4 V/mm, and the frequency range is of 0-10 kHz. The sensor signals through filters and amplifiers are input to the acquisition and analysis system for real-time monitoring, storage, and analysis [22].

5. Results and discussion

The theoretical calculation is accomplished with the parameter assignment as follows, m= 1 kg, k= 1×104 N/m, c= 20 Ns/m, r= 1×10-5 m, η= 2.5×1012 N/m3, γ= 8×104 Ns2/m2, thus ω0= 100 rad/s, μ= 10 rad/s. Using Matlab software, the curves of analytical solutions and working frequency FRE can be obtained. The transient time scale factor t1 is defined to describe the influence from transient-state response to steady-state response. As t1 increases, the transient perturbation decays to zero quickly.

Fig. 4 shows the analytical steady-state solution (t1= 0 s) and transient-state solutions (t1= 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5 s) of Eq. (37). It is obvious from the partial enlargement that the transient-state solutions are more and more close to the steady-state solution as the transient time scale factor increases. As the transient-steady energy ratio decays to 10 %, the corresponding transient time scale factor t1 is about 0.3 s. So, we take 0.3 s as the reference value. If t1 is greater than 0.3 s, the transient energy is one order of magnitude lower than the steady energy, and thus can be negligible.

Fig. 4The analytical steady-state solution (t1= 0 s) and transient-state solutions (t1= 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5 s)

The analytical steady-state solution (t1= 0 s) and  transient-state solutions (t1= 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5 s)

Fig. 5The spectrum transformed by FFT

The spectrum transformed by FFT

Fig. 6The frequency-response curve of experimental result

The frequency-response curve  of experimental result

If rotational speed is constant, the amplitudes and phases in Eq. (39) degenerate to constant, which satisfies the time-invariant condition of Fourier transform. As can be seen from Fig. 5 transformed by FFT, the magnitude of the third harmonic generation is three orders of magnitude lower than that of the fundamental frequency. The fundamental frequency is about 8000 rpm, which is a bit consistent with experimental result of speed-up process shown in Fig. 6.

To further verify the nonlinear response characteristics, we put three frequency-response curves, including experimental result, steady-state solution transformed by STFT, working frequency FRE, on the same graph respectively, and intercept the portion of fundamental frequency for comparing, which is shown in Fig. 7. Obviously, all of the curves take on resemblance in the linear vibration features caused by A0cosΩt+θ0. It is worth noting that, the AB segment of experimental result and the CD segment of steady-state solution both present nonlinear vibration characteristics caused by A1cosΩt+θ1. But for the curve of working frequency FRE, there is only one peak point E, which can be considered as an expression of the nonlinear feature, so that it is incomplete and inaccurate to analyze the nonlinear characteristics by just using the working frequency FRE.

Fig. 7Comparison of frequency-response curves

Comparison of frequency-response curves

The time-amplitude-frequency spectrum of rotor speed-up process is shown in Fig. 8, and especially in the area A, the whirl starts to appear at the rotational speed of 12487 rpm under the effect of gas film, which due to the fluid-solid coupling mechanism mainly caused by gas bearing used in this experiment. It needs to be noticed that, based on the large deformation and perturbation assumptions, the analytical model in this paper does not consider the subharmonic effect caused by gas film. Additional researches on whirl effect of bearing will be addressed in subsequent work.

Fig. 8Time-amplitude-frequency spectrum of rotor speed-up process

Time-amplitude-frequency spectrum of rotor speed-up process

6. Conclusions

In this paper, with respect to reveal the mechanism of dynamic behaviors and nonlinear responses of a rotor system, an analytical model is constructed, and the analytical solutions are derived via multi-scale method. The conclusions are as follows.

1) By defining the nonlinear scale factor ε, and introducing nonlinear stiffness and nonlinear damping, a nonlinear analytical model is presented, which aims to reflect the linear and nonlinear interaction.

2) The analytical solutions of steady-state and transient-state are derived via multi-scale method, and the nonlinear natural frequency and the working frequency FRE are obtained.

3) The mechanism of nonlinear scale factor ε is clarified, which can be used to reflect the degree of influence on nonlinear effects. The rationality and validity of the analytical model are also verified.

4) The transient time scale factor t1 is defined to reflect transient-state influence on steady-state, which can be obtained when transient-steady energy ratio decays to 10 %.

5) The steady-state solution well reflects the nonlinear vibration characteristics of the fundamental frequency, which is consistent with the experimental result, rather than that of the working frequency FRE, in which the nonlinear characteristics is represented as one point. Therefore, the rationality of the analytical solutions is verified.

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About this article

Received
22 July 2016
Accepted
18 November 2016
Published
31 December 2016
SUBJECTS
Mechanical vibrations and applications
Keywords
flexible rotor system
nonlinear vibration
analytical model
nonlinear scale factor
analytical solution
Acknowledgements

The work is supported by National Science and Technology projects (Grant No. 2012BAA11B02), and the support is gratefully acknowledged.

Author Contributions

Min Wu wrote this paper and take the charge the theoretical work and analysis. Shengbo Yang drew the pictures and a part of the analysis. Dongjiang Han take charge of the experimental work. Daren Yu and Jinfu Yang guide this work, organize the discussion and the analysis.