Rotor-Bearing System Design Tool for use with Hybrid Magnetic/Gas/Rolling-Element Supports

This proposed Phase I project addresses the Air Force requirement for a system analysis of rotors supported with magnetic bearings by combining a powerful, user oriented multi-shaft rotor dynamics program with state-of-the-art models of a magnetic bearing and control system, gas (foil) bearings, and auxiliary rolling element bearings. This is the only approach that will provide a complete and accurate simulation of the shaft(s) and support system coupled behavior. Phase I of this SBIR project is focused on creating the combined analysis system and demonstrating the feasibility of the selected approach to serve as a design tool. The resulting computer code, which has been named FEMRDYN-MAG (Finite Element Multi-shaft Rotor DYNamics with MAGnetic bearings), features a fully integrated, graphical user interface, and will operate on most 32-bit computers. The program will be capable of representing all pertinent features of multiple shaft gas turbine rotor-bearing systems, and will include advanced models of magnetic, gas, dry sleeve, and rolling element bearings. Results from the program will include stability, critical speeds, unbalance and transient response, including nonlinear steady state performance. The final computer code will provide an unequaled analysis tool for use in the design and integration of magnetically supported rotor-bearing systems.