Gyroscopic Effects of a Vibrationally Isolated Rotating Disk and Shaft

An aircraft engine is an example of a rotating machine whose rotating imbalance will be transmitted as vibrational energy into the structure to which it is attached. There is considerable interest in understanding this energy transmission in order to design mounting systems, both passive and active, which can control this transmission the best possible way in order to reduce structurally borne noise in the cabin. It is a well established fact in acoustics[1] that in order to reduce perceived sound at the listener, the noise transmission path must be severed by 1) eliminating the source of the disturbance (usually difficult if not impossible), 2) preventing propagation of energy into the structure and ultimately to structural surfaces, 3) preventing radiation of sound energy from vibrating surfaces, and 4) preventing radiated sound from reaching the listener. In this paper we address only the prevention of energy transmission from the source into the supporting structure through use of some type of mounting system.