Balancing flexible rotating shafts with an initial bend

The synchronous whirl of a rotating, flexible shaft induced by an initial bend is similar, though slightly different, than that induced by a pure mass unbalance. The differences are due to differences in the forcing effects produced by these phenomena. A discussion of the problems associated with balancing bent, flexible shafts is presented. Experimental results are reported for a long, flexible shaft which demonstrate the effects of initial bend at speeds up to and beyond the fourth critical speed. Included are the results of a series of very successful balancing tests.