Whirl of Simple Rotors

Abstract

This introductory chapter deals with the understanding of the whirling phenomena of simple rotors; this is essential for a deep insight into the physics of rotating machinery. Although the models dealt with in this chapter may look too simple to be directly applicable to practical rotor problems, the vibration phenomena associated with the simple models are often observed in the real world. On the other hand, the equations of motion governing these simple models are already so complicated that any increase in the complexity of the models is likely to make the analytical approach impractical. In this sense, the topics treated here are essential for an understanding of the dynamics of rotors, and for seeing what makes rotors different in nature from other structures.