Zhiyi Zhang

A hybrid approach for modelling dynamic behaviours of a rotor-foundation system

A new hybrid approach is presented to study the dynamic behaviour of a rotor- foundation system, in which a shaft coupled with various discontinuities are connected to a flexible foundation via discrete spring subunits. By modelling the rotor with the modified transfer matrix method and describing the flexible foundation through the appropriate modal model, the proposed technique facilitates a computationally efficient modelling approach where a mixture of theoretical, numerical or experimental models can be incorporated into one overall numerical model. Particularly, the present model enables one to conveniently consider both the free and forced vibrations as well as effects of various combinations of discontinuities encountered in the rotor. Some results are compared with available results in previous publications and those from the finite element method to validate the model. Parametric studies are also performed to demonstrate the accuracy and versatility of the developed method for substructure coupling analysis.