Effect of Residual Shaft Bow on Unbalance Response and Balancing of a Single Mass Flexible Rotor—Part I: Unbalance Response

The effect of residual shaft bow on the unbalance response of a single mass rotor on rigid supports has been examined with a theoretical analysis. The analysis determined the amplitude, phase angle, and peak rotor response speed for various combinations of residual bow and unbalance. For most combinations the phase angle corresponding to the peak rotor response speed was significantly different from the 90 degrees observed in the conventional unbowed rotor. If the residual bow and unbalance were exactly out of phase, the rotor amplitude was zero for a rotor speed equal to the square root of the ratio of residual bow amplitude to unbalance eccentricity. The results of the study suggested a simple method for determining the relative amplitudes of residual bow and unbalance eccentricity based upon the motion of a timing mark on an oscilliscope screen. If the residual bow was less than the unbalance eccentricity, the timing mark moved first in the direction of rotor rotation as the speed is increased and then moved in the opposite direction at a speed less than the critical speed. In the reverse situation, the timing mark moved opposite to the direction of rotation as the speed is increased. At some speed above the critical, it reversed direction. Part II of this paper presents theoretical and experimental results for balancing of a single mass rotor with a residual bow.