Instability thresholds for flexible rotors in hydrodynamic bearings

Two types of fixed pad hydrodynamic bearings (multilobe and pressure dam) were considered. Optimum and nonoptimum geometric configurations were tested. The optimum geometric configurations were determined by using a theoretical analysis and then the bearings were constructed for a flexible rotor test rig. It was found that optimizing bearings using this technique produces a 100% or greater increase in rotor stability. It is shown that this increase in rotor stability is carried out in the absence of certain types of instability mechanisms such as aerodynamic crosscoupling. However, the increase in rotor stability should greatly improve rotating machinery performance in the presence of such forces as well

Vibration limiting of rotors by feedback control

Experimental findings of a three mass rotor with four channels of feedback control are reported. The channels are independently controllable with force being proportional to the velocity and/or instantaneous displacement from equilibrium of the shaft at the noncontacting probe locations (arranged in the vertical and horizontal attitudes near the support bearings). The findings suggest that automatic feedback control of rotors is feasible for limiting certain vibration levels. Control of one end of a rotor does afford some predictable vibration limiting of the rotor at the other end

Dynamics of a flexible rotor in magnetic bearings

Discussed is a magnetic bearing which was designed and tested in a flexible rotor both as support bearings and as a vibration controller. The design of the bearing is described and the effect of control circuit bandwidth determined. Both stiffness and damping coefficients were measured and calculated for the bearing with good agreement. The bearings were then placed in a single mass rotor as support bearings and the machine run through two critical speeds. Measurements were made of the vibration response in plain bushings and magnetic bearings. Comparisons were also made of the theoretical calculations with the measured peak unbalance response speeds. Finally, runs were made with the magnetic bearing used as a vibration controller

Design and test of a magnetic thrust bearing

A magnetic thrust bearing can be employed to take thrust loads in rotating machinery. The design and construction of a prototype magnetic thrust bearing for a high load per weight application is described. The theory for the bearing is developed. Fixtures were designed and the bearing was tested for load capacity using a universal testing machine. Various shims were employed to have known gap thicknesses. A comparison of the theory and measured results is presented

Digital control of magnetic bearings supporting a multimass flexible rotor

The characteristics of magnetic bearings used to support a three mass flexible rotor operated at speeds up to 14,000 RPM are discussed. The magnetic components of the bearing are of a type reported in the literature previously, but the earlier analog controls were replaced by digital ones. Analog-to-digital and digital-to-analog converters and digital control software were installed in an AT&T PC. This PC-based digital controller was used to operate one of the magnetic bearings on the test rig. Basic proportional-derivative control was applied to the bearings, and the bearing stiffness and damping characteristics were evaluated. Particular attention is paid to the frequency dependent behavior of the stiffness and damping properties, and comparisons are made between the actual controllers and ideal proportional-derivative control

Microgravity vibration isolation: An optimal control law for the one-dimensional case

Certain experiments contemplated for space platforms must be isolated from the accelerations of the platforms. An optimal active control is developed for microgravity vibration isolation, using constant state feedback gains (identical to those obtained from the Linear Quadratic Regulator (LQR) approach) along with constant feedforward (preview) gains. The quadratic cost function for this control algorithm effectively weights external accelerations of the platform disturbances by a factor proportional to (1/omega)(exp 4). Low frequency accelerations (less than 50 Hz) are attenuated by greater than two orders of magnitude. The control relies on the absolute position and velocity feedback of the experiment and the absolute position and velocity feedforward of the platform, and generally derives the stability robustness characteristics guaranteed by the LQR approach to optimality. The method as derived is extendable to the case in which only the relative positions and velocities and the absolute accelerations of the experiment and space platform are available

Microgravity isolation system design: A case study

Many acceleration-sensitive, microgravity science experiments will require active vibration isolation from manned orbiters on which they will be mounted. The isolation problem, especially in the case of a tethered payload, is a complex three-dimensional one that is best suited to modern-control design methods. In this paper, extended H(sub 2) synthesis is used to design an active isolator (i.e., controller) for a realistic single-input-multiple-output (SIMO) microgravity vibration isolation problem. Complex mu-analysis methods are used to analyze the isolation system with respect to sensor, actuator, and umbilical uncertainties. The paper fully discusses the design process employed and the insights gained. This design case study provides a practical approach for isolation problems of greater complexity. Issues addressed include a physically intuitive state-space description of the system, disturbance and noise filters, filters for frequency weighting, and uncertainty models. The controlled system satisfies all the performance specifications and is robust with respect to model uncertainties

Microgravity isolation system design: A modern control synthesis framework

Manned orbiters will require active vibration isolation for acceleration-sensitive microgravity science experiments. Since umbilicals are highly desirable or even indispensable for many experiments, and since their presence greatly affects the complexity of the isolation problem, they should be considered in control synthesis. In this paper a general framework is presented for applying extended H2 synthesis methods to the three-dimensional microgravity isolation problem. The methodology integrates control and state frequency weighting and input and output disturbance accommodation techniques into the basic H2 synthesis approach. The various system models needed for design and analysis are also presented. The paper concludes with a discussion of a general design philosophy for the microgravity vibration isolation problem

The associations between QCT-based vertebral bone measurements and prevalent vertebral fractures depend on the spinal locations of both bone measurement and fracture

Summary We examined how spinal location affects the relationships between quantitative computed tomography (QCT)-based bone measurements and prevalent vertebral fractures. Upper spine (T4–T10) fractures appear to be more strongly related to bone measures than lower spine (T11–L4) fractures, while lower spine measurements are at least as strongly related to fractures as upper spine measurements. Introduction Vertebral fracture (VF), a common injury in older adults, is most prevalent in the mid-thoracic (T7–T8) and thoracolumbar (T12–L1) areas of the spine. However, measurements of bone mineral density (BMD) are typically made in the lumbar spine. It is not clear how the associations between bone measurements and VFs are affected by the spinal locations of both bone measurements and VF. Methods A community-based case–control study includes 40 cases with moderate or severe prevalent VF and 80 age- and sex-matched controls. Measures of vertebral BMD, strength (estimated by finite element analysis), and factor of risk (load:strength ratio) were determined based on QCT scans at the L3 and T10 vertebrae. Associations were determined between bone measures and prevalent VF occurring at any location, in the upper spine (T4–T10), or in the lower spine (T11–L4). Results Prevalent VF at any location was significantly associated with bone measures, with odds ratios (ORs) generally higher for measurements made at L3 (ORs = 1.9–3.9) than at T10 (ORs = 1.5–2.4). Upper spine fracture was associated with these measures at both T10 and L3 (ORs = 1.9–8.2), while lower spine fracture was less strongly associated (ORs = 1.0–2.4) and only reached significance for volumetric BMD measures at L3. Conclusions Closer proximity between the locations of bone measures and prevalent VF does not strengthen associations between bone measures and fracture. Furthermore, VF etiology may vary by region, with VFs in the upper spine more strongly related to skeletal fragility.National Institutes of Health (U.S.) (Grants R01AR053986, R01AR/AG041398, T32AG023480, and F31AG041629)National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. Framingham Heart Study (NIH/NHLBI Contract N01-HC-25195