The effect of speed of balanced rotor on nonlinear vibrations associated with ball bearings

The paper deals with the structural dynamic response of rotor supported by ball bearings. The mathematical model takes into account the sources of nonlinearity such as Hertzian contact force, surface waviness, varying compliance and internal radial clearance resulting transition from no contact to contact state between rolling elements and races. In terms of the feature that the nonlinear bearing forces act on the system, a new reduction method and corresponding integration technique is used to increase the numerical stability and decrease computer time for system analysis. The effects of speed of balanced rotor in which ball bearings show periodic, quasi-periodic and chaotic behavior are analyzed. The results are presented in the form of time displacement responses, frequency spectra and Poincare maps. It is implied from the frequency spectra that peak amplitude of vibrations appear at the varying compliance frequency. (C) 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.