Modeling Techniques for Coupled, Rotating Beams

Beams are parts of many industrial applications, like robot links, rolls in paper industry and turbo charger. In this work, a rotordynamical problem, the powertrain for a mill stand, is under consideration. Torsional and bending vibrations are used to describe the dynamical behavior. There are several methods for deriving the dynamical equations of motion. In this paper, the Projection Equation, a synthetical method, is used, leading to partial differential equations for the distributed parameter system. A simplification can be done by using the Ritz approximation method. This method requires the fulfillment of the geometric boundary conditions. For our example, a combination of rigid body modes and elastic modes is chosen. Also models for the gear box system and bearings are included. The solutions for the overall example are nonlinear ordinary differential equations which can be integrated numerically. The system is excited by constant torques and forces. Simulation results for this elastic multibody system are presented.