Influence of pivot support stiffness on dynamic characteristics of vertical rotor system

The pivot-jewel bearing pair is the only dynamic and static contact component of the flexible vertical rotor system, and its support stiffness directly affects the dynamic response of the rotor system. A non-linear dynamic model of the vertical rotor system is established, and the effect of different elastic pivot stiffnesses on the dynamic behavior of the rotor system is investigated in combination with experiments. The results show that with the increase of rotational speed, the system has the dynamic characteristics of alternating period 1 and quasi period, and when the speed reaches 550 r/s, 1/3 times low frequency whirl occurs and when the speed rises to 675 r/s, the low frequency amplitude is higher than the rotational frequency amplitude. With the increase of the elastic pivot stiffness, the amplitude of the low frequency whirl at the lower end of the rotor decreases continuously but the proportion of the “width” gradually increases. The rotational speed corresponding to the large amplitude quasi periodic motion of the rotor is delayed from 550 r/s to 650 r/s. The research results can provide a theoretical basis for the optimal design of the bearing subsystem of the vertical rotor system.