Achieving desirable stress states in thick rim rotating disks

Abstract The theoretical implications of varying the mass and stiffness properties in a search for desirable stress states in thick rim flywheels are investigated. In some cases, the variation of mass and stiffness properties to achieve desirable stress states facilitates consideration of thick rims with an inner radius to outer radius of 0.6 or lower. One thick rim concept investigated, namely that of variable mass density and stiffness, exhibits the same stress characteristics as does the thin rim concept in that the radial stress is zero throughout whereas the hoop stress is constant and equal to the product of the mass density times the peripheral speed squared.