Nonlinear Modeling and Vibration Response Analysis of a Dual-Rotor System with an Inter-Shaft Graphite Seal

The inter-shaft graphite seal is a common structure in the dual-rotor system, and may generate nonlinear lateral excitation when there is large relative angular motion at the seal position. This paper represents the first attempt to study the nonlinear behaviors of a dual-rotor system with inter-shaft graphite seal excitations. First, an excitation model of the inter-shaft graphite seal is proposed by the analytical method. This model is then introduced into the beam finite element model of a dual rotor system, and the dynamic equations of the whole system are finally obtained. The vibration responses under the effect of the inter-shaft seal are clarified by analyzing 3D waterfall plots, rotor orbits, and time and frequency domain waveforms. The results show that the inter-shaft seal can lead to vibration coupling between HP and LP rotors. The axial spring stiffness and contact end face friction coefficient of the graphite seal have a significant effect on rotor vibration. When those two parameters are small, only coupling vibration phenomena can be observed, i.e., the rotation frequency of one rotor can be observed in another rotor vibration. With the increase in axial spring stiffness or contact end face friction coefficient, multiple modes of LP and HP rotors are excited, which dominates the vibration behaviors of the dual rotor system.