Rotor System Evaluation Using Open-Loop Characteristics

This chapter discusses an evaluation method for rotor vibration characteristics by utilizing the open-loop frequency response of the system, instead of conventional eigenvalue analysis. The vibration characteristics of a rotor system are represented by the (damped) natural frequency and damping ratio. They have been estimated in the previous chapters from the viewpoint of the eigenvalue solution, the impulse response waveform, and the resonance curve (FRA) under harmonic excitation. The open-loop characteristics are from a concept in control engineering. A rotor-bearing system can be conceived as a control system as shown in Fig. 8.1, of which the open-loop characteristics are related to the vibration characteristics: the gain cross-over frequency is an estimate of the natural frequency, and the phase margin is an indicator for the damping ratio. Details of estimation are described below.