Experimental Investigation of a Piezoelectrically Actuated Rotating Parts Feeder

The parts feeder provides both horizontal and vertical forces to transfer the small parts between stations in automated manufacturing processes. In this paper, the dynamic characteristics of a piezoelectrically actuated rotating parts feeder was evaluated. The model of the piezoelectric bimorph, the key component of the parts feeder, is formulated under DC and AC excitation. Experiments using laser interferometer, impedance analyzer and spectrum analyzer were conducted to measure displacement sensitivity, resonance frequencies and antiresonance frequencies of the electrical/mechanical system. Relations between driving frequencies and vibration amplitudes under various driving voltages were reported. From experimental results, the resonance frequencies of the mechanical system were identified at 176.6 Hz and 535 Hz. The first resonance and anti-resonance frequencies of the electrical system were found at 176.0 Hz and 177.5 Hz. The electromechanical coupling coefficient for piezoelectric actuator using Mason formula is 13%. Operating at the first resonance frequency, the parts feeder feeds at 17.66 mm/sec with a vertical vibration amplitude of 14.2 μ m.

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.

Updating Rotor-Bearing Finite Element Models

In this paper, the possibility of updating the finite element model of a rotor-bearing system by estimating the bearing stiffness and damping coefficients from a few measured Frequency Response Functions using a Genetic Algorithm is investigated. The issues of identifiability and parameters estimation errors, computational costs and algorithm tuning are addressed. A simulated example of a flexible rotor supported by orthotropic bearings is used for illustrating the method.

Prevention of Low-Frequency Vibration of High-Capacity Steam Turbine Units

The causes of low-frequency vibration (subsynchronous vibration) of a high pressure turbine were investigated analytically and also via vibration excitation tests on actual machines under operation. From the results, it was concluded that low-frequency vibrations may be caused by either the decrease of the rotor system damping or by external forces, such as flow disturbance in the control stage and the rubbing between the rotor and casing. After identifying the cause of the low-frequency vibration, appropriate countermeasures such as installation of a squeeze-film damper and modification of valve opening sequence were taken. Vibration measurements and vibration excitation tests for the high pressure turbine under actual operating conditions were carried out in order to verify the validity of the countermeasures. These field tests confirmed that the problems of low-frequency vibration can be solved completely by taking the appropriate countermeasure depending on the cause of the vibration. This paper presents some field experiences of low-frequency vibration and the effective solution approach.

Dynamic Vibration Absorber for a Ropeway Carrier

Ropeways such as gondola lifts have attracted increasing interest as a means of transportation in cities. However, swing of ropeway carriers is easily caused by wind, and usually a ropeway cannot operate if the wind velocity exceeds about 15m/s. The study of how to reduce the wind-induced swing of ropeway carriers has attracted many researchers. It had been said that it was impossible to reduce the vibration of pendulum type structures such as ropeway carriers by a dynamic absorber. But in 1993, Matsuhisa showed that the swing of carrier can be reduced by a dynamic absorber if it is located far above or below from the center of oscillation. Based on this finding, a dynamic absorber composed of a moving mass on an arc-shaped track was designed for practical use, and it was installed in chairlift-type carriers and gondola type carriers in snow skiing sites in Japan in 1995 for the first time in the world. It has been shown that a dynamic absorber with the weight of one tenth of the carrier can reduce the swing to half. The liquid dynamic absorber was also investigated. It has the same damping effect as the conventional solid absorber. It is easy to adjust the natural frequency and the damping ratio, and the structure is simple. Therefore, it will be applied for not only ropeway carriers but also ships and rope suspended bridge and others.

Wave Propagation Analysis of an Axially Strained, Rotating Timoshenko Shaft: Part II

In this paper, the wave reflection and transmission characteristics of an axially strained, rotating Timoshenko shaft under general support and boundary conditions, and with geometric discontinuities are examined. As a continuation to Part I of this paper (Kang and Tan, 1997), the wave reflection and transmission at point supports with finite translational and rotational constraints are further discussed. The reflection and transmission matrices for incident waves upon general supports and geometric discontinuities are derived. These matrices are combined, with the aid of the transfer matrix method, to provide a concise and systematic approach for the free vibration analysis of multi-span rotating shafts with general boundary conditions. Results on the wave reflection and transmission coefficients are presented for both the Timoshenko and the Euler-Bernoulli models to investigate the effects of the axial strain, shaft rotation speed, shear and rotary inertia.

Vibration Control of a Multi-Layer Piezoelectric Cylindrical Shell

Equations of motion for multi-layer piezoelectric cylindrical shells and the equations of the integrated piezoelectric sensors are derived. The state equation is obtained by solving the equations of motion with modal expansion method. The feedback control, feedforward control, and their combination are applied in the control of forced vibration of the piezoelectric cylindrical shell with integrated sensor and actuators. The simulation and experimental results show that good control effectiveness can be obtained by using the integrated piezoelectric sensor and actuators in conjunction with the combination of feedback and feedforward control methods.

Application of Dynamic Vibration Absorbers to Mass Measurement

A mass measurement system which uses a dynamic vibration absorber as measuring device is developed. It can measure mass even under weightless conditions like in space stations. In this system, an object to be measured is fixed to a rotating table (rotor) at a distance from the rotational axis. Since it makes the rotor unbalanced, a centrifugal force causes the supporting structure to vibrate during rotation. A dynamic vibration absorber attached to the structure is tuned or controlled to cancel the excitation force. When the structure does not vibrate, the amplitude of motion of the auxiliary mass equals the ratio of the amount of unbalance to the auxiliary mass. Therefore, the mass of the object is determined from the motion of the auxiliary mass. According to the measurement principles, the vibration of the supporting structure must be eliminated. A servocompensator with the performance of automatic frequency tracking is applied to reduce the vibration. Experimental results demonstrate that mass can be measured accurately with the developed measurement system.

Thermally Induced Synchronous Instability of a Radial Inflow Overhung Turbine: Part I

This paper is in two parts, and concerns the lateral dynamics of a large turbocharger rotor with overhung wheels. Initial rotor dynamic analysis indicated no excessive motion in the operating speed range. However, testing showed excessive motion, which was initially traced to the radial-inflow turbine wheel becoming loose on the shaft, due to transient differential thermal expansion in the wheel on startup. The attachment of the wheel was modified to eliminate this problem. The discussion up to this point is in Part I of the paper, and the remainder is in Part II. The wheel attachment modification extended the range of satisfactory operation upward considerably, but excessive lateral motion was again encountered near the upper end of the operating speed range. This behavior was traced to thermal bowing of the shaft at the turbine end, known as the Morton Effect. The turbine end bearing was modified to eliminate this problem, and satisfactory operation was then achieved throughout the operating speed range.

The Estimation of Rotor Unbalance

A method is presented to determine the state of unbalance of a rotating machine. The only requirement of the procedure is a good numerical model for the rotor and an approximate model for the bearing behaviour. No assumptions are made concerning the operational mode shape of the rotor and the influence of the supporting structure is included in a consistent manner. For simplicity the analysis is presented in a single plane orthogonal to the rotor axis, but no difficulty is foreseen in extending the method to two planes. Examples are given for a two bearing system with both constant and varying bearing coefficients.