Air University

DMAE [IAA]

Lab # 9
OBJECTIVE:
To study the oscillation behavior of a single occupied shaft and comparison of
theoretically calculated and practically observed critical speeds.
APPARATUS:TM 620 Critical Speed Investigation Apparatus
APPARATUS DESCRIPTION:-

Part #
1
2
3
4
5
6
7

Component
Elastic Shaft
Mass Discs
Rocker Bearing
Base Frame
Drive Motor
Protective Cover
Switch Box

THEORY:An elastic shaft fitted with one mass disc is studied as the simplest rotor
model with a critical speed. It is also called the Laval shaft after the Swedish
engineer de Laval. (It is also known as Jeffcott-rotor ). He used the
characteristics of this shaft to construct high speed steam turbines with
speeds of up to 30,000 rpm. This point will be discussed later.
The following simplifications and limitations are specified:
- straight, massless elastic shaft
- circular shaft (main geometrical moments ofinertia equal)
- bearing rigid with contact at one point
- no damping
- twisting of mass disc due to bending minimal (idealised as point mass
without rotational moment of inertia)
Mechanical Vibration Lab

Air University

DMAE [IAA]

- influence of weight forces negligible

- rotor speed constant
- no axial motion of the rotor
The motion of the center of mass of the disc is described in fixed, Cartesian
co-ordinates. The co-ordinate origin O lies in the connecting line between the
two bearings. The co-ordinates z, y describe the deflection of the shaft at the
point of the disc (shaft piercing pointW) and the co-ordinates zs, ysthe
motion of the center of mass of the disc S.

The equations of motion of the disc shown above in the z and y directions
come out to be:-

Symbol
c
m

Quantity
Rigidity of the shaft
Disc Mass
Eccentricity of the shaft
Angular speed of the shaft

Based on their character, these are inhomogeneous differential equations.

They differ from each other only in the phase shift of the exciter term on the
right-hand side (cos or sin). The equations describe an inertial-force excited
system capableof oscillating with its natural frequency

Mechanical Vibration Lab

Air University

DMAE [IAA]

With it, this equation follows for the critical speed

The rigidity of the shaft is calculated for the center position of the disc to

PROCEDURE:-

Set speed potentiometer 1 (1) on switchbox to zero

Set switch for selecting speed (3) to potentiometer 1

Switch on motor with (4)
Slowly run rotor up to resonance point with potentiometer 1
As soon as rotor contacts safety bearing (hard running noise), read
speed nu off speed counter (5) and record
Reduce speed again
Set speed with potentiometer 2 (2) which is guaranteed to lie above
critical speed (approx. 500 rpm above speed nu). In this case, one
potentiometer rotation corresponds to approx. 300 rpm
Switch specified speed (3) on potentiometer 2. Now accelerate rotor as
quickly as possible and run through resonance point. If resonance point
is not overcome, switch back to potentiometer 1 and increase speed on
potentiometer 2.
Now lower speed slowly with potentiometer 2 in over-critical range
until rotor is near resonance point and contacts safety bearing
Read off speed no and record

Mechanical Vibration Lab

Air University

DMAE [IAA]

CALCULATIONS:We know from the theory section that the natural frequency at the resonance
point is given as:-

With it, this equation follows for the critical speed

The rigidity of the shaft is calculated for the center position of the disc to

withE = 210000 N/mm2 and the geometrical moment

of inertia

Record the values in the following table:No.

Of Distance
Rigidity
Observations
between
C in N/m
Bearings (L)
in mm
1
2
3
4

Natural
Frequency
w0 in 1/s

OBSERVATIONS:The observations table is given as below:No.

Of Distance
Speed from Speed from
Observations
between
below nu in above no in
Bearings (L) rpm
rpm
in mm
1
2
3
4

Mechanical Vibration Lab

Critical
Speed ncrit in
rpm

Average
Critical
Speed ncrit in
rpm

Air University

DMAE [IAA]

CONCLUSION:Find the %age error in theoretical and practical values.

Find the sources of error in the equipment

Mechanical Vibration Lab