Published: 25 November 2023

Analysis of the effect of maneuvering overload on the reaction force of the main shaft bearing in aero-engine

Zhenhe Jiang1
Moli Chen2
Guihuo Luo3
Weiying Wang4
1, 4College of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
2, 3College of Energy and Power Engineering, Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
Corresponding Author:
Moli Chen
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Abstract

In order to study the effects of maneuvering overload on the main shaft bearing (abbreviation: bearing) reaction force in an aero-engine, a bending-torsion coupling dynamic model of the dual rotor system under maneuvering overload was established. Combined with the output parameters of the system model, the bearing reaction force analysis model was established. The maneuvering overload parameters are input into system model. Newmark-β and Newton-raphson methods are used to obtain the bearing reaction force response, and the change laws of bearing reaction force under the different maneuvering overloads are analyzed. The results show that gravity will make the transient response of bearing reaction force offset, and maneuvering overload will make the offset shift. Maneuvering overload will cause bearing to produce a circumferential asymmetric reaction force. For bearing 1, the additional gyroscopic torque in maneuvering overload has a significant effect on the dynamic eccentricity, resulting in a larger offset of reaction force of y direction. For bearings 3 and 4, reaction force of x direction has a larger offset. Under the influence of bent-torsional coupling, the combined frequencies of base frequencies of rotational speed appear in the reaction force spectrum diagram.

Analysis of the effect of maneuvering overload on the reaction force of the main shaft bearing in aero-engine

Highlights

  • Analysis of the reaction force of main shaft bearing
  • The main shaft bearing of rotor under maneuvering overload
  • Effect of rotor dynamic eccentricity on reaction force
  • Frequency analysis of reaction force

1. Introduction

The time-varying loads of the main shaft bearing are significant reference for its design, and can also be used as the input parameters for its fatigue life test. The time-varying loads of bearings in aero-engine are divided into axial load and radial reaction force. The axial load depends on the aerodynamic load of engine compressor blades, while the radial reaction force is related to unbalanced excitation and additional excitation caused by maneuvering overload [1] Generally, the unbalanced excitation affects vibration characteristics of the rotor system [2-3], and furtherly, it affects the dynamic characteristics of the bearings reaction force. The maneuvering overload will results in dynamic eccentricity of the dual-rotor [4-7] and the impacts on the bearings reaction force are more significant. In some cases, an engine rotor system will have bending-torsion coupling vibration, which will change the frequency characteristics of the bearings reaction force. Therefore, the research on the characteristics of the bearings reaction force under maneuvering overload is of great significance to the fatigue life prediction of the bearings of the engine.

In this article, the dynamic model of dual-rotor system under maneuvering overload is first established, the transient response of the rotor system is obtained by Newmark-β and Newton-raphson numerical integration method, furtherly, the transient response is input into the bearing reaction force analysis model to obtain the time-varying reaction force of the bearings for analysis and research.

2. Model of engine dual-rotor system

In order to establish dual-rotor system model of engine under maneuvering overload, coordinate systems should be established to describe maneuvering flight of aircraft and the rotating motion of an rotor. As shown in Fig. 1, ground coordinate system OXYZ, carrier coordinate system oxyz and rotor coordinate system o'ξηζ are established.

The mass eccentricity of disks cause bending-torsion coupling vibration, thus, the disk bending-torsion coupling dynamic model under maneuvering overload is established. By simplifying the structure of an engine, and the structure diagram of dual-rotor system is obtained, as shown in Fig. 2. Where oxyz is the carrier coordinate system in Fig. 1. The outer rings of the bearings 1, 2, 3, 5 are all connected with the squirrel cage elastic support and SFD in series, and the bearing 4 is connected with the high and low pressure rotor to couple two rotors.

Fig. 1Coordinate position relation

Coordinate position relation

Fig. 2Dual-rotor system structural schematic

Dual-rotor system structural schematic

The translational kinetic energy Tdt, rotational kinetic energy Tdr, elastic potential energy V and dissipative energy D of disk are substituted into Lagrange equation. Let: L=Tt+Tr-V. The disk bending-torsion coupling dynamic differential equation under maneuvering overload is obtained:

1
ddtLqdj-Lqdj+Dqdj=Qdj,
2
Md+Mduq¨d+Cd+ΩGd+Cdu+Cdbq˙d+Kd+Kdu+Kdbqd=Fdu+Fdb+Gd,

where, Kdb, Cdb, Fdb are the additional stiffness, damping and excitation generated by disk element under maneuvering overload condition. Mdu, Cdu, Kdu are the bending-torsion coupling matrix of disk element.

The model of beam element under maneuvering overload is established. Based on the relationship between element nodes, beam elements and disk elements are assembled. The dynamic differential equation of dual-rotor system considering bending-torsion coupling characteristics under mathematical model is obtained:

3
M+Muq¨+C+ΩG+Cu+Cbq˙+K+Ku+Kbq=Fb+G,

where, Kb, Cb, Fb are the additional stiffness matrix, damping matrix and excitation vector generated by dual-rotor system under maneuvering overload, Kb=Kdb+Ksb, Cb=Cdb+Csb, Fb=Fdb+Fsb. Mu, Ku, Cu are the coupling inertia, stiffness and damping matrix introduced by bending-torsion coupling characteristics.

Where, Ksb, Csb, Fsb are the additional stiffness, damping and excitation generated by beam element under maneuvering overload condition. The expressions of Kdb, Cdb, Fdb are as follows:

Mdu=0000-mdesin(Ωt+φ)0000mdecos(Ωt+φ)0000000000-mdesin(Ωt+φ)mdecos(Ωt+φ)00mde2,
Kdu=00000000000000000000mdeΩ2sin(Ωt+φ)mdeΩ2cos(Ωt+φ)000,
Cdu=-2Ω00000000000000000000mdecosΩt+φmdesinΩt+φ000, Cdb=0-2mdωB,Z002mdωB,Z00000000000,
Fdb=-md(X¨B-ωB,ZY˙B+ωB,YZ˙B)-mdz(ωB,XωB,Z+ω˙B,Y)-md(Y¨B+ωB,ZX˙B-ωB,XZ˙B)-mdz(ωB,YωB,Z-ω˙B,X)-IpΩωB,Y-Idω˙B,XIpΩωB,X-Idω˙B,Y,
Kdb=-md(ωB,Y2+ωB,Z2)md(ωB,XωB,Y-ω˙B,Z)00md(ωB,XωB,Y+ω˙B,Z)-md(ωB,X2+ωB,Z2)0000000000,

where, md, e are mass and eccentricity of disk element, X˙B, X¨B are speed and acceleration of aircraft along X axis, ωB,X, ω˙B,X are angular rate and angular acceleration of aircraft around X axis.

3. Calculation method of the bearings reaction force

The bearing reaction force analysis model matching the transient response is established. Therefore, this section mainly introduces the bearing reaction force analysis method. The bearings are equivalent to spring-damping system. It can be seen form Fig. 3 that bearing 1 connects node m and node n, and its stiffness and damping coefficient of x and y direction are respectively k1x, k1y and c1x, c1y, and the components in x and y direction and resultant force of bearing 1 reaction force are as follows:

4
F1x=k1xxm-xn+c1xx˙m-x˙n, F1y=k1yym-yn+c1yy˙m-y˙n,
F1=F1x2+F1y2.

Fig. 3Spring-damping system

Spring-damping system

4. Calculation parameters

As shown in Table 1, 9 typical conditions are studied. The dual rotor speed ratio is 1.3. Where ω are 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30.

Table 1Parameters of maneuvering flight

Condition number
Maneuvering action
Maneuvering overload (g)
Z˙B
(m/s)
ωB,Y
(rad/s)
Y˙B
(m/s)
ωB,Z
(rad/s)
ωB,X
(rad/s)
1
Level
0
15
0
0
0
0
2
Hover
ω
ω
0.1∙ω
0
0
0
3
Pitch
15
0
0
15
0
–1.5
4
Roll
15
0
0
–15
1.5
0

5. Calculation results and analysis of bearings reaction force

The dynamic differential equations of the rotor system are solved by Newmark-β and Newton-raphson numerical integration methods. The transient response is input into bearing reaction force analysis model to obtain the time-varying reaction force of the bearing, and effects of maneuvering flight, actions and overloads on the bearing reaction force are analyzed.

5.1. Effects of maneuvering flight on the transient response of bearings reaction force

Taking conditions 1 and 2 as examples, where ω is 15, the bearings do not bear gravity in x direction when aircraft maintains level flight or hovers, so the transient response in y direction of the bearings reaction force are studied.

Fig. 4 shows the transient response of reaction force of y direction to the bearing 1 with aircraft keeping level flight and hovering when the low pressure rotor is at speed 280 rad/s. Observing Fig. 4(b), due to the existence of gravity, when aircraft is maintaining level flight, bearings reaction force of y direction have a certain deviation. When the aircraft hovers, bearing is subjected to gravity in y direction. Subjected to gyroscopic torque in y direction, the rotor shaft will be whirled and there is dynamic eccentricity, so that the transient response of bearings reaction force are different from that of the level flight.

Fig. 4The transient response of reaction force of y direction to bearing 1

The transient response of reaction force of y direction to bearing 1

a) Hover

The transient response of reaction force of y direction to bearing 1

b) Level

Fig. 5The steady response of reaction force to bearings

The steady response of reaction force to bearings

a) Bearing 1

The steady response of reaction force to bearings

b) Bearing 3

5.2. Effects of maneuvering action on the steady response of bearings reaction force

Taking conditions 1, 2, 3 and 4 as examples, where ω is 15. The effects of maneuvering action on the steady response of the bearings are analyzed by solving the steady response of the bearings reaction force. Considering that bearing 1 and bearing 3 support the low and high pressure rotor respectively, the bearings 1 and 3 are selected as research objects.

Fig. 5 shows the steady response of the bearing 1 and 3, in which 280 rad/s and 370 rad/s correspond to the first-order critical speed of the high and low pressure rotor respectively. As shown in figure, when aircraft rolls, the bearings reaction force are the largest at speed 280 rad/s, while the bearings reaction force are the smallest at speed 370 rad/s. At the other speed, bearings supporting the low pressure rotor have smaller reaction force, while bearings supporting the high pressure rotor have larger reaction force during rolling. Although the rotor system is subject only to additional gyroscope torque during rolling, the rolling time is always very short, which makes rolling angular velocity larger, so impacts of rolling action on maintain level flight reaction force cannot be ignored. The Changes of impacts of hovering and pitching actions on reaction force of bearings supporting the low pressure rotor is not much, but for bearings supporting the high pressure rotor, bearings reaction force are larger than that of the pitching action.

5.3. Effects of overload on bearings reaction force

Taking conditions 2 as examples, where ω is 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, when the low pressure rotor is at speed 280 rad/s, the variation laws of the bearings reaction force amplitude caused by dynamic eccentricity with maneuvering load are analyzed.

Fig. 6 shows variation curve of amplitude of reaction force with maneuvering overload when aircraft hovers. When the aircraft hovers, the rotor system is subjected to additional centrifugal force of x direction, and additional gyroscope torque acts in y direction. Therefore, As shown in Fig. 6, the additional gyroscope torque has a more obvious influence on the rotor shaft dynamic eccentricity at the bearing 1, and for the bearings 3 and 4, the additional centrifugal force has a greater impacts on the offset of reaction force.

Fig. 6Variation curve of amplitude of reaction force with maneuvering overload

Variation curve of amplitude of reaction force with maneuvering overload

a) Bearing 1

Variation curve of amplitude of reaction force with maneuvering overload

b) Bearing 3

Variation curve of amplitude of reaction force with maneuvering overload

c) Bearing 4

5.4. Effects of maneuvering flight on frequency characteristics of bearings reaction force

Taking conditions 1 and 2 as examples, where ω is 15, the effects of maneuvering flight on the frequency characteristics of the bearings reaction force are studied.

Fig. 7Three-dimensional spectral diagram of reaction force during hovering

Three-dimensional spectral diagram of reaction force during hovering

a) Bearing 1

Three-dimensional spectral diagram of reaction force during hovering

b) Bearing 3

Fig. 8Three-dimensional spectral diagram of reaction force during level

Three-dimensional spectral diagram of reaction force during level

a) Bearing 1

Three-dimensional spectral diagram of reaction force during level

b) Bearing 3

Fig. 7 and Fig. 8 are three-dimensional spectral graphs of the bearings reaction force during hovering and level flight respectively, where, ω1 and ω2 are base frequency of the low and high pressure rotor speed respectively, and the horizontal coordinate in the figure is the ratio of characteristic frequency to ω1. As shown in figure, when aircraft is keeping level flight, the bearings reaction force have a zero frequency, mainly due to gravity, and the impacts of gravity on the bearing 5 are more significant. When aircraft hovers, rotor system is not only affected by gravity, additional excitation will also cause dynamic eccentricity, and with the increase of the low pressure rotor speed, the dynamic eccentricity will be greater, because the gyroscopic torque is related to speed. In the spectrum diagram of reaction force, there are not only frequency doubling components 2ω1 and 2ω2 of the fundamental frequency, but also ω2-ω1 and ω2+ω1 caused by high, low pressure rotor coupling and bending-torsion coupling.

6. Conclusions

In this paper, the change law of the bearing reaction force under maneuvering overload is analyzed. It is found that the transient response of the bearing reaction force is offset due to the gravity and the dynamic eccentricity of the rotor system. The steady state response of the reaction force varies with the bearing position and maneuvering action. For bearing 1, the additional gyroscopic torque in maneuvering overload has a significant effect on dynamic eccentricity, resulting in a larger offset of reaction force of y direction. For bearings 3 and 4, the additional centrifugal force makes support reaction of x direction have a larger offset. With the increase of maneuvering overload, the bearing reaction force caused by dynamic eccentricity increases. Due to the coupling of high and low pressure rotor and bending-torsion coupling, the frequencies doubling and combination of base frequencies of rotational speed appear in the reaction force spectrum diagram.

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About this article

Received
02 October 2023
Accepted
24 October 2023
Published
25 November 2023
SUBJECTS
Mechanical vibrations and applications
Keywords
maneuvering overload
dual-rotor system
main shaft bearing
reaction force
Acknowledgements

The research is funded by National Science and Technology Major Project, Grant number J2019-Ⅳ-004-0071.

Data Availability

The datasets generated during and/or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.