Heaven’s ligHt is our guide

Rajshahi University of Engineering

and Technology, Rajshahi

Department of Mechanical Engineering

Expt. No: 02
Name of expt.: Whirling speed of a shaft.

SUBJECT: Engineering Submitted By:

mechanics 3 sessional. NAME: Raihan karal
COURSE NO.: ME 3132 ROLL: 1602022
DATE OF EXP.: 20-11-2020 CLASS:3rd year, Even semester.
DATE OF SUB.: 10-12-2020 SESSION: 2016-17
GROUP: A-4:
4.1 Experiment No: 04

4.2 Name of the experiment: Whirling speed of a shaft.

4.3 Objectives: The objective of this experiment is to compare the theoretical and experimental
value of whirling speed for single mass at different point.

4.4 Theory:
In actual practice, a rotating shaft carries different mountings and accessories in the form of gears,
pulleys, etc. When the gears or pulleys are put on the shaft, the centre of gravity of the pulley or
gear does not coincide with the centre line of the bearings or with the axis of the shaft, when the
shaft is stationary. This means that the centre of gravity of the pulley or gear is at a certain distance
from the axis of rotation and due to this, the shaft is subjected to centrifugal force. This force will
bent the shaft which will further increase the distance of centre of gravity of the pulley or gear
from the axis of rotation. This correspondingly increases the value of centrifugal force, which
further increases the distance of centre of gravity from the axis of rotation. This effect is cumulative
and ultimately the shaft fails. The bending of shaft not only depends upon the value of eccentricity
(distance between centre of gravity of the pulley and the axis of rotation) but also depends upon
the speed at which the shaft rotates.
The speed at which the shaft runs so that the additional deflection of the shaft from the axis of
rotation becomes infinite, is known as critical or whirling speed.

Fig.4.4.1. Critical or whirling speed of a shaft.

Consider a shaft of negligible mass carrying a rotor, as shown in Fig.23.14 (a). The point O is on
the shaft axis and G is the centre of gravity of the rotor. When the shaft is stationary, the centre
line of the bearing and the axis of the shaft coincides. Fig. 23.14 (b) shows the shaft when rotating
about the axis of rotation at a uniform speed of ω rad/s.

Let m = Mass of the rotor,

e = Initial distance of centre of gravity of the rotor from the centre

line of the bearing or shaft axis, when the shaft is stationary,
 y = Additional deflection of centre of gravity of the rotor when
the shaft starts rotating at ωrad/s, and

s = Stiffness of the shaft i.e. the load required per unit deflection
of the shaft.

Since the shaft is rotating at ωrad/s, therefore centrifugal force acting radially outwards
through G causing the shaft to deflect is given by

The shaft behaves like a spring. Therefore the force resisting the deflection y,
= s.y

A little consideration will show that when ω > ωn, the value of y will be negative and the
shaft deflects is the opposite direction as shown dotted in Fig 4.4.1 (b).

In order to have the value of y always positive, both plus and minus signs are taken.

We see from the above expression that when ωn ωc , the value of y becomes infinite.

Therefore ωc is the critical or whirling speed.

∴Critical or whirling speed,
If Nc is the critical or whirling speed in r.p.s., then

Where δ = static deflection at the point mass applied on the shaft

m = mass of the rotor

Hence, the critical or whirling speed is the same as the natural frequency of transverse vibration
but its unit will be revolutions per second.
𝑠 0.4985
Critical speed or whirling speed ωc = √𝑚 = √𝛿 rps ---------------------------------- (1)

Replacing NC= ωc

Where s = stiffness of shaft

0.4985
At different positions, ωc = rps…………………………….........……. (2)
√𝛿1+ 𝛿2+ 𝛿3 +⋯

Rotor

Shaft axis Axis of rotation

FC

For theoretical calculation of static deflection of shaft use following equation

a b

L
𝑊𝑎2 𝑏 2
δ= ---------------------------------------------- (3)
3𝐸𝐼𝐿
4.5 Apparatus:
 Whirling shaft speed apparatus
 Slide calipers
 Transformer
 Stroboscope (rpm)
 Screw driver
 Measuring gauge

4.6 Procedure:

Fig 4.6.1: Experimental set up

 At first diameter of the shaft was measured by the slide calipers.

 Then theoretical whirling speed was observed.
 Then the mass was placed on the shaft and the motor was switched on.
 As the speed was increased, the shaft started to vibrate gradually.
 The speed was increased until the shaft was deflected maximum.
 Then for that position, the maximum deflection (δ) was measured from equation (3).
 Then similarly the maximum deflection was measured at different positions of the shaft for
same mass.
 Then average of all deflections were taken and put into equation (1) to measure the whirling
speed of the shaft.
 Thus the experimental value of whirling speed was measured.
 Finally the correlation of both theoretical and experimental value was calculated.
4.7 Data table :
 Total length of the shaft = 50 cm = 0.5m
 Mass of rotor = 980 gm = 0.98 kg
 Modulus of elasticity, E = 200 x 109 Nm- 2
Table 4.7.1: Determination of average whirling speed.

No Distance Distance Maximum Practical Average of Theoretical Average of

of a b Deflection value of ωc value of ωc
obs. δ= Whirling (practical) Whirling (Theoritical)
𝑊𝑎 2 𝑏2 speed speed
(m) (m)
3𝐸𝐼𝐿
−3 ω (rpm) ω
(m) ×10
(rpm) (rpm) (rpm)

01 0.275 0.225 1.8 580 690

02 0.3 0.2 1.77 660 712
03 0.325 0.15 1.59 720 751
04 0.35 0.15 1.35 790 808.7 814 898
05 0.375 0.125 1.08 880 912
06 0.4 0.1 0.784 970 1068
07 0.425 0.075 0.498 1060 1340

4.8 Calculations:
0.5m×55% = 0.275m = a; b =0.225m 0.5×75% = 0.375m = a; b= 0.125m

0.5m×60% = 0.300m = a; b = 0.200m 0.5×80% = 0.400m =a; b =0.100m

0.5m×65% = 0.325m = a; b =0.150m 0.5×85% = 0.425m =a; b =0.075m

0.5m×70% = 0.350m = a; b = 0.175m

Diameter d1= 6+1×0.05= 6.05 mm

Diameter d2 =6+3×0.05 = 6.15 mm
Diameter d3 = 6+2×0.05 = 6.1 mm
6.05+6.15+6.1
Average of ‘d’ = = 6.1 mm = 0.0061 m
3

𝜋 𝜋 ̶ 11
Again, I = 64 𝑑4 =64 (0.0061)4 = 6.8×10 m4
 W 0.98×9.8×(0.275)2 ×(0.225)2
δ1 = 3EIL × a2b2 = 3×200×109×6.53×10−11 ×0.5 = 1.80×10−4 m.

W 0.98×9.8×(0.3)2 ×(0.2)2
δ2 = 3EIL × a2b2 = 3×200×109×6.53×10−11 ×0.5 = 1.77×10−4 m.

W 0.98×9.8×(0.325)2 ×(0.275)2
δ3 = 3EIL × a2b2 = 3×200×109×6.53×10−11 ×0.5 = 1.59×10−4 m.

W 0.98×9.8×(0.35)2 ×(0.15)2
δ4 = 3EIL × a2b2 = 3×200×109×6.53×10−11 ×0.5 = 1.35×10−4 m.

W 0.98×9.8×(0.375)2 ×(0.125)2
δ5 = 3EIL × a2b2 = 3×200×109×6.53×10−11 ×0.5 = 1.08×10−4 m.

W 0.98×9.8×(0.40)2 ×(0.10)2
δ6 = 3EIL × a2b2 = 3×200×109×6.53×10−11 ×0.5 = 0.784×10−4 m.

W 0.98×9.8×(0.425)2 ×(0.075)2
δ7 = 3EIL × a2b2 = 3×200×109×6.53×10−11 ×0.5 = 0.498×10−4 m.

(1.80+1.77 +1.59+1.35+1.08+0.784+0.498)×10−4
average of deflection, δ = 7

=1.26×10−4 m.

Now equation 4.3:

0.4985
[ωc = rpm]
√𝛿

0.4985 0.4985
ωc1 = rps = 690 rpm ωc2 = rps = 712 rpm
√𝛿1 √𝛿2

0.4985 0.4985
ωc3 = rps = 751 rpm ωc4 = rps = 814 rpm
√𝛿3 √𝛿4

0.4985 0.4985
ωc5 = rps = 912 rpm ωc6 = rps = 1068 rpm
√𝛿5 √𝛿6

0.4985
ωc7 = rps = 1340 rpm
√𝛿7

Average ωc= 898 rpm

 Whirling speed vs Distance
1400 Practical
Theoretical
1300

1200

1100
Whirling speed ,ω (rpm)

1000

900

800

700

600

500

400
0.25 0.27 0.29 0.31 0.33 0.35 0.37 0.39 0.41 0.43 0.45
Distance, a (m)
4.9 Results:
Mass Theoritical Experimental % of correlation Average speed
𝜔
system whirling speed whirling speed × 100 ωc
𝜔𝑐
ωc ω (rpm)
(rpm) (rpm)
Single
mass at
898 808.7 90.89 853.35
different
point

4.10 Discussion:
There was large difference between the theoretical and experimental value due to the fault in
measurement. The screw of disc was broken. For this reason disc was rotating freely for inertia.
As the shaft was vibrated, the table was also vibrated. The vibration of the motor was transferred
along shaft. For this reason universal joint was used to absorb this vibration. The readings of
stroboscope were taken approximately due to the vibration of the rotor. The measurement of
distance of rotor was not exactly perfect so that the theoretical calculation had slight error. Hence
the practical value was less than the theoretical value. The mass of shaft was neglected. For this
reason a uniform load is neglected and error was found. By using better screw and precious
instruments, better result could be found.

4.11 Conclusion:
The theoretical and experimental value of whirling speed for single mass at different point was
compared. It could be concluded that as rotor has higher vibration at critical speed, it is risky to
run system at critical speed.