Bifurcation analysis for a modified Jeffcott rotor with bearing clearances

A HB (Harmonic Balance)/AFT (Alternating Frequency/Time) technique is developed to obtain synchronous and subsynchronous whirling motions of a horizontal Jeffcott rotor with bearing clearances. The method utilizes an explicit Jacobian form for the iterative process which guarantees convergence at all parameter values. The method is shown to constitute a robust and accurate numerical scheme for the analysis of two dimensional nonlinear rotor problems. The stability analysis of the steady-state motions is obtained using perturbed equations about the periodic motions. The Floquet multipliers of the associated Monodromy matrix are determined using a new discrete HB/AFT method. Flip bifurcation boundaries were obtained which facilitated detection of possible rotor chaotic (irregular) motion as parameters of the system are changed. Quasi-periodic motion is also shown to occur as a result of a secondary Hopf bifurcation due to increase of the destabilizing cross-coupling stiffness coefficients in the rotor model.