The Jeffcott equations in nonlinear rotordynamics

The solutions of the Jeffcott equations describing the behavior of a rotating shaft are investigated analytically, with a focus on the case where deadband is taken into account. Bounds on the solutions are obtained from those for the linearized equations, and the onset of destructive vibrations is predicted by analyzing the Fourier transforms of the solutions; good agreement with numerical solutions and power-spectrum density plots is demonstrated. It is suggested that the present analytical approach could be applied to determine cryogenic-pump stability margins in flight and hot-fire ground testing of launch vehicles such as the Space Shuttle.