A Method for Calculating the Dynamics of Rotating Flexible Structures, Part 1: Derivation

Abstract

The problem of calculating the vibrations of rotating structures has challenged analysts since it was observed that the use of traditional modal approaches may incorrectly lead to the prediction of infinite deformation when rotation rates exceed the first natural frequency. Much recently published work on beams has shown that such predictions are artifacts of incorporating incomplete kinematics into the analysis, but only simple structures such as individual beams and plates are addressed. The authors present a new approach to analyzing rotating flexible structures that applies to the rotation of general linear (unjointed) structures, using a system of nonlinearly coupled deformation modes. This technique, tentatively named a Method of Quadratic Components , utilizes a nonlinear configuration space in which all kinematic constraints are satisfied up to second order.