Nonlinear normal modes and primary resonance of horizontally supported Jeffcott rotor

The nonlinear normal modes of a horizontally supported Jeffcott rotor are investigated. In contrast with a vertically supported rotor, there are localized and nonlocalized nonlinear normal modes because the linear natural frequencies in the horizontal and vertical directions are slightly different due to both gravity and the nonlinearity of restoring force. Reflecting such nonlinear normal modes, the frequency response curves are characterized in the primary resonance. In the case where the eccentricity is small, i.e., the response amplitude is small, the whirling motion is localized in the horizontal or vertical direction in the resonance. On the other hand, when the eccentricity is large, two kinds of whirling motion, which are localized in the vertical direction and nonlocalized in any direction, coexist simultaneously in a region of rotational speed. Experiments are conducted, and the theoretically predicted nonlinear responses based on localized and nonlocalized nonlinear normal modes are observed.