An algorithm for response and stability of large order non-linear systems : Application to rotor systems

Abstract A numerical algorithm to calculate the periodic response, stability and bifurcations of a periodically excited non-conservative, Multi-Degree of Freedom (MDOF) system with strong local non-linearities is presented. First, the given large order system is reduced using a fixed-interface component mode synthesis procedure (CMS) in which the degrees of freedom associated with non-linear elements are retained in the physical co-ordinates while all others, whose number far exceeds the number of non-linear DOF, are transformed to modal co-ordinates and reduced using real mode CMS. A shooting and continuation method is then applied to the reduced system to solve for the periodic response. Floquet stability theory is used to calculate stability and bifurcations of the periodic response. The algorithm is applied to study the response to imbalance, stability, and bifurcations of a 24 DOF flexible rotor supported on journal bearings. The results indicate that the proposed algorithm, though approximate, can yield very accurate information about dynamic behavior of large order non-linear systems, even with few numbers of retained component modes. The algorithm, which imposes less demand on computer time and memory, is believed to be of considerable potential in analyzing a variety of practical problems.