Nonlinear centrifugal effects on a prestressed laminated rotor

Electrical rotors are usually used in rotating machinery such as in ship engine pods. Designing such rotors in bending requires careful modeling of a laminated stack prestressed by tie rods. Theoretically, steel sheets, varnish layers and prestressing make it difficult to homogenize the constitutive properties of a stack both at rest and under operating conditions. Moreover, it is noteworthy that tie rods subjected to centrifugal forces bend until reaching annular clearance. Their nonlinear bending tends to increase their stiffening effects and the axial lamination load, therefore it affects the homogenized constitutive properties of a stack modeled with Timoshenko beams. By combining a fixed-point algorithm and penalty method at each speed of rotation, it is possible to plot the Campbell diagram and unbalance responses by considering updated properties and the axial load of the tie rods generated by centrifugal effects. An industrial application is used to show that centrifugal effects have a slight influence on rotor dynamics.

Research highlights
► We study the dynamics of a laminated rotor prestressed with tie rods.
► Centrifugal loads involve their nonlinear bending and contact with laminations.
► Induced axial loads on tie rods and the stack imply an evolution of its properties.
► Campbell diagram and unbalance responses show a slight influence of centrifugation.