Technical Bulletin

TBN017.0/1998

CRITICAL SPEED OF SHAFTS

All rotating shaft, even in the absence of

external laod, deflect during rotation.
The combined weight of a shaft and
wheel can cause deflection that will
create resonant vibration at certain
speeds, known as Critical Speed.

suggests that the maximum operation

speed should not exceed 75% of the
critical speed.

Criticalspeed,Nc =

The magnitude of deflection depends

upon the followings :-

30

g
st

where :
g = gravity acceleration (9.81 m/s2)
st = total maximum static deflection

(a) stiffness of the shaft and its support

(b) total mass of shaft and attached parts
(c) unbalance of the mass with respect
to the axis of rotation
(d) the amount of damping in the
system

Critical speed depend upon the

magnitude or location of the load or
load carried by the shaft, the length of
the shaft, its diameter and the kind of
bearing support.

Therefore, the calculation of critical

speed for fan shaft is necessary.

Critical Speed Equation (Nc)

Total Maximum Static Deflection (st)

There are two method used to calculate

critical
speed,
Rayleigh-Ritz
and
Dunkerley Equation. Both the RayleighRitz and Dunkerley equation are an
approximations to the first natural
frequency of vibration, which is assumed
to be nearly equal to the critical speed of
rotation.

The maximum static deflection, st, is

obtained by adding both the maximum
static deflection of the rotating shaft and
the load.
(1) Maximum static deflection on shaft
(stI)

In general, the Rayleigh-Ritz equation

overestimates and the Dunkerley
equation underestimates the natural
frequency.

1.1)

The equation illustrated below is the

Rayleigh-Ritz equation, good practice

stI=

1-5

5wL3
384EI

Technical Bulletin - TBN017.0/1998

1.2)

2.3)

stI=

wL3
8EI
st2=

WA(3L2 4A 2 )
24EI

st2=

WL3
3EI

(2) Maximum static deflection on load

only (st2)
2.4)

2.1 )

st2=

WL
48EI
3

where :

2.2 )

st2=

w = weight of shaft, kg
W = weight of wheel, kg
E = modulus of elasticity, kg/m2
for shaft C40=200 x108 kg/m2
I = moment of inertia=D4/64, m4
L = length of shaft, m

WB(L2 B2 ) 3 / 2
9 3EIL

Shaft Diameter
D (mm)
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
55
60
70

Moment of inertia
I (m4)
7.85 x 10-9
19.17 x 10-9
39.76 x 10-9
73.66 x 10-9
125.66 x 10-9
201.29 x 10-9
306.79 x 10-9
449.18 x 10-9
636.17 x 10-9
1178.59 x 10-9
Table I

2-5

Weight per metre

(kg/m)
2.47
3.85
5.51
7.99
9.87
13.00
15.40
18.70
22.20
30.20

Technical Bulletin - TBN017.0/1998

Example 1
Given the following specifications, find
the critical speed.

(b) Total maximum static deflection

(st)
st = st1 + st2
= 0.00018 + 0.000139
= 0.000319 m

Model : KAT 15/15 S2

with 2-bearings

(d) Critical Speed (Nc)

Diameter of shaft, D = 40 mm
Weight of wheel, W = 7.5 kg
= 1.37 m
Shaft length, L
= 0.205 m
Length, A
Moment of inertia, I = 125.66 x 10-9 m4
Modulus of Elasticity, E= 200 x108 kg/m2

Nc =

(C40)

Shaft weight, w=1.37 x 9.87

5wL3
---------------- refer to Fig. 1.1
384EI
5(13.52)(1.37 ) 3
384(200x10 8 )(125.66x10 9 )

=0.00018 m

(b) Deflection from load only (st2)

st2=

30
9.81
0.000319

Safety factor 25%, therefore max.

operation speed = 1675 x 0.75
= 1256 rpm

(a) Deflection from shaft weight only

(st I)

g
st

=1675 rpm

=13.52 kg ---- refer to Table I

stI=

30

WA(3L2 4A 2 )
--refer to Fig. 2.3
24EI

7.5(0.205)[3(1.37 ) 2 4(0.205) 2 ]
24(200 x10 8 )(125 .66x10 9 )

=0.000139 m

3-5

Technical Bulletin - TBN017.0/1998

Example 2

(b) Deflection from load only (st2)

To check critical speed for KAT 12/12 S3

with 2-bearing, one side of the bearing
overhung.

st2=

WA(3L2 4 A 2 )
24EI

5.4(0.197 )[3(1.114 ) 2 40(0.197 ) 2

24(200 x10 8 )(73.66x10 9 )

=0.000107 m

Diameter of shaft, D = 35 mm
Weight of wheel, W = 5.4 kg
Moment of inertia, I = 73.66 x 10-9 m4
Modulus of Elasticity, E= 200 x108 kg/m2

(c) Total maximum static deflection

(st)

(C40)

st =stI+st2
=0.000109 +0.000107

Check Critical Speed For Long Span

=0.000216m

(d) Critical speed for long span (Nc)

Nc =

Length, A
Length, L
Shaft weight,w

= 0.197 m
= 1.114 m
= 8.9 kg

(a) Deflection from shaft weight (st I)

stI=

30

30

g
st

9.81
0.000216

=2035rpm

5wL
384EI
3

Safety Factor 25%, therefore max.

operation speed = 2035 rpm x 0.75
= 1526 rpm

5(8.9)(1.114 ) 3
384(200 x10 8 )(73.66x10 9 )

=0.000109 m

4-5

Technical Bulletin - TBN017.0/1998

Check Critical Speed For Overhung

(d) Critical Speed at overhung (Nc)

Nc =

Length, A = 0.5215
Length, L = 0.534 m
shaft weight,w = 4.27 kg

9.81
0.000228

Conclusion

wL3
8EI

=0.000055 m

Long Span
Critical Speed
Max. operation speed

= 2035 rpm
= 1526 rpm

Overhung
Critical Speed
Max. operation speed

= 1980 rpm
= 1485 rpm

Therefore, the max. operation speed for

this KAT 12/12 S3 should be according
to the overhung, ie. whichever lesser,
which is = 1485 rpm

(b) Deflection from load only (st2)

30

Safety factor 25%, max. operation

speed = 1980 x 0.75 = 1485 rpm

4.27(0.534) 3
=
8(200x10 8 )(73.66x10 9 )

st2=

g
st

= 1980rpm

(a) Deflection from shaft weight only

(stI)
stI=

30

WA 3
3EI
5.4(0.5215) 3
3(200 x10 8 )(73.66x10 9 )

=0.000173 m

(b) Total maximum static deflection

(st)
st =stI+st2
=0.000055+0.000173
=0.000228m

5-5