Draft: Stick-Slip Motions of a Rotor-Stator System

Abstract

In the current study, the authors examine the torsional vibrations of a rotor enclosed within a stator subjected to dry friction. Through the experiments, it is demonstrated that forward whirling of the rotor occurs while in contact with the stator, backward whirling occurs with contact, as well as impacting motions, which are characterized by nonsynchronous whirling with rotor-stator collisions. While undergoing these motions, the torsional oscillations are excited by stick-slip interactions. Experimental data are presented to show the presence of a stable torsional mode dominated motion while subjected to stick-slip forces during dry-friction whirling. In this motion state, the torsional oscillation response occurs at a combination of frequencies including drive and whirl frequencies. A finite dimensional model is constructed and simulations carried out by using this model are able to capture the system dynamics, including the torsional responses observed during dry-friction whirling. Numerical results obtained by using this model are consistent with experimental observations. The findings of this study are relevant to whirling motions experienced by rotating, long flexible structures, such as drill strings used in oil-well explorations.