Some Experiments on the Balancing of Small Flexible Rotors: Part I—Theory

Abstract

A theoretical balancing technique was proposed by Bishop and Gladwell (1)§ and an experimental investigation of its usefulness is reported. Experiments conducted on the laboratory scale were believed necessary before full-scale tests on large industrial rotors (such as alternator rotors) could be properly justified. The thin shafts which were used clearly showed the importance of initial bend (as opposed to mass unbalance) as a source of forced vibration. This required some additions to the original theory, and they are the subject of Part I of this paper. Part II | contains an account of the actual experiments and of the test apparatus. It is concluded that the theory is fully borne out on the laboratory scale and that comparable tests on large rotors would be justified.