Continuous Rotor Dynamics of Multi-Disc and Multi-Span Rotors: A Theoretical and Numerical Investigation of the Identification of Rotor Unbalance from Unbalance Responses

Rotor unbalance identification plays a critical role in balancing rotors. In this paper, concerned with multi-disc and multi-span rotor-bearing systems, two novel algorithms called the Single Direction Algorithm (SDA) and the Two Orthogonal Direction Algorithm (TODA) are proposed for identifying rotor unbalance from unbalance responses. A matrix method is proposed to solve the problem of the equations being non-linear transcendental, there being too many unknown variables in the equations, and rotor unbalances and bearing coefficients being coupled together. The unbalance responses at all the eccentric discs are necessary for identifying their unbalances. Numerical simulations are conducted to validate the proposed methods. Moreover, an adjustment point is found, and a proper sensor resolution is suggested to achieve high identification accuracy by means of numerical studies. In addition, the identification accuracy of SDA is better than TODA, and SDA is more practical and suitable for medium-speed and high-speed rotors. The proposed algorithms have the flexibility to incorporate any number of bearings and discs and provide a technique for monitoring rotor unbalance without test runs or external exciters.