Machinery Vibration Services

Rotordynamic Analysis
CONTACT:
Harold R. Simmons,
PE
Machinery Vibration
Services
(210) 522-2557 Machinery Torsional
E-mail: Harold Dynamics Rotordynamic
Simmons Analysis Flow-Induced Fan and Duct
Vibration and Noise Finite Dynamics Reciprocating
Element Dynamic Compressor Foundation
Analysis Root Cause Integrity Reciprocating
Failure Compressor Field
Diagnosis Troubleshooting Support Reciprocating
Turbomachinery Operating Pump Support
and Installation Services Centrifugal
Problems Turbomachinery Pump Problem
Performance Diagnosis Crankshaft
Diagnosis Design Strain in Large Integral
Assurance Computational Reciprocating
Fluid Dynamics Metering Compressors Gas
Research Facility Turbine Technology
KEY TERMS: (MRF) Flow
rotating machinery Measurement Fluid
compressor failure
machinery rotor
Machinery and Design
systems Services
bearing stiffness
vibration
amplitudes
turbomachinery
rotor
Since the 1960s, Southwest Research Institute
systems
aircraft gas engine
(SwRI) has developed and applied rotordynamics
turbines tools to predict and rectify problems with
bearings and
dampers rotating machinery and to allow design of new
failure analysis
unbalanced rotor equipment.

Lateral Analysis
To predict the
lateral critical
speeds of
rotors and to
determine
sensitivity to
unbalance,
SwRI
calculates:
SwRI engineers use computer models, such
 as this mass-elastic model, to predict
Undamped system performance.
critical
speeds
 Bearing

Critical speed map guides assessment of

rotordynamic characteristics.
performance

 Stiffness and damping coefficients

 Damped unbalance response amplitudes

and frequencies

 Rotor stability

 Mode shapes
Torsional Vibration

To predict the torsional critical speeds of the

entire train, including the effects of gear boxes,
couplings, etc., SwRI engineers calculate:

 Undamped critical speeds

 Transient critical speeds, including
synchronous motor start-ups

 Mode shapes

 Cumulative
fatigue
criteria, such
as maximum
starts

Stability Analysis

SwRI evaluates
designs to
determine system
stability and
sensitivity to
As part of a torsional analysis, SwRI
instability predicts the steady-state critical
mechanisms. These speeds of rotor trains.
analyses involve:

 Aerodynamic cross coupling

 Logarithmic decrement predictions

Rotordynamic Modeling

SwRI engineers develop mass-elastic models, as

this diagram shows, for rotating components
(e.g., compressors, turbines, pumps, motors, and
gearbox shafts), accounting where appropriate
for the lateral stiffening effect of interference
fits. The resultant model enables prediction of
rotor system dynamic characteristics, such as:

 Lateral critical speeds

 Torsional critical speeds

 Response to unbalance excitation

 Stability

Critical Speed Map

Critical speed maps, such as this one, help SwRI

engineers evaluate a machinery rotor system.
Combined with bearing stiffness curves, the
critical speed map shows where critical speeds
will likely occur. The map indicates the
effectiveness of bearing damping in controlling
vibration amplitudes. The critical speed map also
reveals the likely effectiveness of the changing
stiffness of bearings or bearing supports in
changing a critical speed.

Bearings

Fluid film, tilting pad bearings influence the

dynamics of turbomachinery rotor systems. Plain
fluid film bearings act as highly loaded dynamic
elements in reciprocating engines. Rolling
element bearings carry the high-speed rotors of
modern aircraft gas turbine engines and their
derivatives in power generating and mechanical
drive service. Squeeze film dampers help
moderate resonant vibration levels in gas turbine
engines, and some manufacturers use them to
stabilize high-performance centrifugal
compressors. For bearings and dampers, SwRI
has capabilities that include:

 Modeling
 Application

 Vibration and temperature measurement

 Condition monitoring

 Failure analysis of bearings and dampers

If you have any questions about machinery

vibration services or rotordynamic analysis,
please e-mail Harold R. Simmons or call him at
(210) 522-2557.

Mechanical and Fluids Engineering Department

Mechanical & Materials Engineering Division SwRI
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Southwest Research Institute® (SwRI®), headquartered in San Antonio, Texas, is a
multidisciplinary, independent, nonprofit, applied engineering and physical sciences
research and development organization with 11 technical divisions.