The rotordynamic behavior of an industrial gas turbine rotor train was assessed on site, and the sensitivity to unbalance was quantified. An outline of the measurement procedure is given.
Differential data reduction with test unbalances was undertaken to minimize the influence of measurement uncertainty. A test unbalance was installed for one run and then shifted by 180° for the consecutive run. With differential data, the effective dynamic properties of the rotor - support - system can be estimated more accurately.
A rotordynamic model was used to identify the support system parameters based on measured data. For the analysis, the anisotropic, elliptical vibration orbits were decomposed into two counter-rotating circular orbits, and the support system parameters identified match the originally predicted values well.
The methods of differential data reduction, rotor train mode shape presentation, elliptical orbit decomposition, and the link of measurement to analytical models with parameter definition are described. Examples from on-site measurements are included for illustration.