8.

1 Influence Coefficient Method

In transverse vibrations due to coupling of the translational and rotational (tilting due to bending) displacements
the analysis becomes more complex as compared to torsional vibrations. A force in a shaft can produce the
translational as well as rotational displacements; similarly a moment can produce the rotational as well as
translational displacements. Influence coefficients could be used to relate these parameters (the force, the
moment, and the translational and rotational displacements) relatively easily. In the present section, the influence
coefficient method is used to calculate natural frequencies and forced responses of rotating machines. Up to three-
DOF rotor systems the hand calculation is feasible, however, for more than three-DOF the help of computer
routines (e.g., MATLAB, Skylab, etc.) are necessary. The method is described for multi-DOF i.e., n number of discs
mounted on a flexible massless shaft (Figure 8.1) and supported by rigid bearings; which can be extended for the
multi-DOF rotor system with flexible multi-supports also.

Figure 8.1 A multi-DOF rotor system mounted on rigid bearings

8.1.1 The static case: Let f 1 , f 2 , …, f n are static forces on discs 1, 2, …, n respectively, and x 1, x 2 , …, x n are the
corresponding shaft deflections at discs. The reference for the measurement of the shaft displacement is from the
bearing axis (i.e., the undeformed position of the shaft) and the gravity effect is neglected. The system under
consideration is a linear system. If a force f is applied to the disc of mass m 1 , then deflection of m 1 will be
proportional to f , i.e.
(8.1)

where α11 is a constant, which depends upon the elastic properties of the shaft and support conditions (e.g., simply
supports, fixed supports, free supports, multi-supports, etc.). It should be noted that we will have deflections at
other disc locations (i.e., 2, 3, …, n ) as well due to force at disc 1 due to the elastic coupling. Now the same force f is
applied to the disc of mass m2 instead of mass m1 , then the deflection of m1 will still be proportional to the force,
i.e.
(8.2)

where, α12 is another constant (the first subscript represents displacement position and the second subscript
represent the force location). In general we have α12 ≠ α11 . Similarly, if force f is applied to the disc of mass mn ,
then the deflection at m1 will be
(8.3)

where, α1n is a constant. If forces f1 , f2 , ..., fn are applied at the locations of respective masses simultaneously, then
the total deflection at m1 , will be summation of all the displacements obtained above by the use of superposition
theorem , as
(8.4)

In the equation, it has been assumed that displacements are small so that a linear relation exists between the force
applied and corresponding displacement produced. Similarly, we can write displacement at other disc locations
as
(8.5)
(8.6)
Here α2j , …, αnj , where j =1, 2, …, n are another sets of constants and can be defined as described for α1i above.
Hence, in general αij is defined as a displacement at i th station due to a unit external force at station j th and keeping
all other external forces to zero. Equations (8.4) to (8.6) can be combined in a matrix form as

(8.7)

It should be noted that due to the transverse force actually both the translational and rotational displacements
take place, i.e., an elastic coupling exists between the translational and rotational displacements. We have already
seen such coupling in Chapter 2 due to the bending of the shaft. In Chapter 4, we have seen the coupling between
the horizontal and vertical plane translational motions (x and y) due to dynamic properties of fluid-film
bearings. In Chapter 5, we have seen the coupling between the horizontal and vertical plane rotational motions
(φx and φy) due to gyroscopic couples.
Similarly, a moment gives the rotational displacement as well as the translational displacement. The method can
be extended to account for the rotational displacement (tilting), φy, of the disc, and for the application of the point
moment, M, at various disc locations along the shaft. Then, equation (8.7) will take the following form
(8.8)

(8.9)

(8.10)

where αij , with i , j = 1, 2, …,2 n are influence coefficients. The first subscript defines the translational (or rotational
) displacement location and the second subscript defines the force (or moment) location. The analysis so far has
referred only to static loads applied to the shaft. When the displacement of the disc is changing rapidly with time,
the applied force has to overcome the disc inertia as well as to deform the shaft. It should be noted that the present
analysis considers only a single plane deformation; however, similar analysis will be valid for another orthogonal
plane. However, due to symmetrical nature of the shaft geometry the elastic coupling in two orthogonal planes
will not exist. Coupling of rotational motions (φx and φy ) in two planes is also seen in Chapter 5 due to
the gyroscopic couple .
8.1.2 The dynamic case : In Figure 8.2 free body diagrams of a disc and the shaft is shown. Let f1´ and M1´ be the
external force and moment on the disc m1 whereas f1 and M1 are the reaction force and moment transmitted to
the shaft (which is equal and opposite to the reaction force and moment of the shaft on the disc). From the force
and moment balance of disc 1, we have
(8.11)

where Id is the diametral mass moment of inertia the disc.

 Figure 8.2 Free body diagrams of (a) a disc and (b) the shaft for a general motion
Similarly at other disc locations, we can write
(8.12)
(8.13)

Substituting for from equations (8.11)-(8.13) and remembering that for the simple

harmonic motion of discs (when no external excitation is present then ω is the natural
frequency of the system ωnf , and if there is an external excitation then it is equal to the excitation frequency, ω ),
equation (8.8) gives

(8.14)

which can be expanded as

(8.15)

In view of equation (8.9), equation (8.15) can be rearranged as

(8.16)

which can be written in more compact form as

(8.17)

with
 (8.18)

Disc displacements x and φy can be calculated for known applied loads (e.g., the unbalance forces and moments)
as
(8.19)

(8.20)

where R represents the receptance matrix and for the present case it contains only real elements. For free
vibrations the right hand side of equation (8.17) will be zero and ω = ωnf , i.e.
(8.21)

which only satisfy when

(8.22)

and it will give the frequency equation and system natural frequencies could be calculated from this. Alternatively,
through eigen value analysis of matrix [ A ] system natural frequencies and mode shapes could be obtained
directly.
In general, the receptance matrix, [ R ] , may contain complex elements when damping forces also act upon the
shaft, in which case applied forces and disc displacements will not all be in phase with one another. Hence, a more
general form of equation (8.19) would be that which indicates both the real and imaginary parts of x , f´and R . In
such case the real and imaginary parts of each equations need to be separated and then these can be assembled
again to into a real matrix form , which will have double the size that with complex quantities. Some of the steps
are described below

where r and i refer to the real and imaginary parts, respectively. Above equation can be expanded as

Now on equating the real and imaginary parts on both sides of equations, we get

Above equations can be combined again as

(8.23)

It can be observed that now the size of the matrix and vectors are double as that of equation (8.19). It should
again be noted that the present analysis is only for one plane motion and for two plane motion the size of the
matrix would be double of the matrix size in eqn. (8.23). Now through simple numerical examples (for the two
or more DOFs) some of the basic concepts of the present method will be illustrated.