Numerical Investigation on the Gravity Response of a Two-Pole Generator Rotor System with Interval Uncertainties

Asymmetric rotor systems widely exist in commercial plants. In the previous studies about asymmetric rotor systems, parameters such as material properties and boundary conditions are deterministic. To obtain a deep understanding of the dynamics of asymmetric rotor systems, a generator rotor system considering uncertain factors is studied in this paper. The equations of motion of the three-dimensional finite element model are solved in the rotating frame. The component mode synthesis is used to reduce the degrees of freedom. By employing the Chebyshev interval method (CIM), the uncertain gravity responses of the generator rotor system are investigated. The influences of the uncertainties in the bearing’s properties and the rotor’s material properties on the gravity response are studied in cases with a single uncertainty and double uncertainties. The accuracy and the efficiency of CIM are validated by comparing with the results of the scanning method. The results show that uncertainties have remarkable influences on the gravity response, and that these influences are different from each other. The proposed method and the results can provide guidance to the design and optimization of the rotary machinery.