Bifurcation and Stability Analysis of a Bolted Joint Rotor System Contains Multi-Discs Subjected to Rub-Impact Effect

Abstract

In aero-engines, the rotor systems are frequently designed with multistage discs, in which the discs are fastened together through bolted joints. During operation, rotating machines are susceptible to rotor–stator rubbing faults. Those bolted joints are subjected to friction and impact forces during a rubbing event, leading to a dramatic change in mechanical properties at the contacting interfaces, influencing the rotor dynamics, which have attracted the attention of scholars. In the present work, a mathematical model, which considers the unbalance force, rotor dimensional properties, nonlinear oil-film force and rub-impact effect, is developed to study the bifurcation and stability characteristics of the bolted joint rotor system containing multi-discs subjected to the rub-impact effect. The time-domain waveforms of the system are obtained numerically by using the Runge–Kutta method, and a bifurcation diagram, time domain waveforms, spectrum plots, shaft orbits and Poincaré maps are adopted to reveal the rotor dynamics under the effect of the rub-impact. Additionally, the influences of rubbing position at the multi-discs on rotor dynamic properties are also examined through bifurcation diagrams. The numerical simulation results show that the segments of the rotating speeds for rubbing are wider and more numerous, and the middle disc is subjected to the rub-impact. When the rub-impact position is far away from disc 1, the rubbing force has little effect on the response of disc 1. The corresponding results can help to understand the bifurcation characteristics of a bolted joint rotor system containing multi-discs subjected to the rub-impact effect.