Rotordynamic Analysis of Vertical Rotors with XLRotor

For lateral rotordynamic analysis, the effect of gravity for a

vast majority of cases is limited to the effect the gravity load
has on the stiffness and damping of the bearings.

In the case of vertical rotors with fluid film radial bearings,

the stiffness and damping of a bearing is dependent on the
static load on the bearing. Since gravitational load will be
negligible, other sources must be considered. These include
unbalanced magnetic pull for motors and generators, static
hydraulic loads for pumps, partial admission loads for turbines,
etc. These are all examples of static loads. In machines with
multiple bearings (i.e. >2), static misalignment of the bearing
centerlines will produce static loads on each bearing.

In cases where the static load is assumed to be rather light,

but otherwise unknown, what is sometimes done is to assume a
certain amount of static operating eccentricity, and calculate
stiffness and damping coefficients corresponding to this
condition.

In special situations gravity can be a source of significant

lateral stiffness. This would be similar to a pendulum, and is
due to the tension in the shaft caused by gravity. For rotors
which are fully supported in the radial direction by bearings,
this affect would generally be negligible. This is nearly
always the case with industrial rotor designs. Xlrotor’s
feature for modeling axial tension can be used to account for
this.

On the Geo Plot sheet in XLRotor, the model geometry normally

shows the rotor horizontal. This can be changed to vertical by
doing XLRotor/Options/General/Vertical Geometry Chart. This is
only for display purposes. It has no effect on calculations.

RMA, Inc., Austin, Texas Page 1 of 1 last saved 4/25/2016 7:11 AM

www.xlrotor.com Rotordynamic Analysis of Vertical Rotors with XLRotor.doc Brian Murphy, 512-918-9140