Application of CFRP as a rotor shaft material

Theoretical analysis and tests performed on rotors with composite shaft show that there is a sufficiently wide rotation stability region in the rotor parameter space despite comparatively high damping of a polymeric composite with respect to steel. Optimum parameters of the shaft (lay-up, thickness) and bearing (radial stiffness, damping) can be found within this region for each given rotor ensuring a low vibration level at critical frequencies. If rotor system parameters are far enough from the instability threshold, maximum vibration level is observed when rotor passes the first eigenfrequency zone. Further increase of rotation frequency leads to a rotor self-centering, and vibration level does not change passing the second eigenfrequency zone. The rotor response is not sensitive to small changes in rotor system parameters. If rotor system parameters are close to the instability threshold, vibration level at the second eigenfrequency dominates, and a small variation of bearing parameters causes significant changes in the vibration level.