THE TORTUOUS EARLY DEVELOPMENT OF ROTOR-BEARING DYNAMICS

摘要

The early development of scientific rotor-bearing dynamics is traced from its beginning in the work of Rankine to the classical study by Jeffcott, which established the theory of unbalance synchronous whirling on a sound basis. The reasons for this long evolution are considered from the publications of the early researchers. The difficulties encountered by early investigators of rotor instability problems are also examined. It is shown that the combination of sound experimental work and purposeful pursuit of an analytical explanation of the observed phenomena were two essential ingredients in achieving a successful solution to early problems of rotordynamics. The development of rotor balancing is also described briefly, from Martenson's invention of the first balancing machine, to the development of the electronic balancing circuit in 1939.