Rotor Dynamics

Course structure

This course is delivered over five days and is mostly in the form of lectures, tutorials, and case studies. All delegates will receive A Certificate of Attendance at the end of the course. The course will be delivered face-to-face at the Cranfield University campus and, simultaneously, broadcast live online. Consequently delegates can either register to attend the lectures in person or register to join the interactive lectures online.

What you will learn

On completion of the course you will be able to:

• Model mathematically a variety of rotating machines such as compressors, pumps and turbines.
• Demonstrate the ability to solve design problems varying from consumer annoyance to machine survival.
• Be aware of the different techniques used in industry for the analysis of rotordynamic problems.

Core content

This Short Course provides a broad introduction to the fundamentals of rotordynamic behaviour and to the evaluation of rotating machinery. The fundamental principles and mechanics involved will be explained with a focus on the practical interpretation and understanding of the rotordynamic phenomena experienced by rotating machines of almost all types.

Working from these fundamental characteristics, the key methods of assessing and interpreting the performance of rotating machines, such as critical speed maps, rotordynamic performance plots alongside the interpretation of actual machine measurements, are addressed.

The use of simple rotors will be introduced as a means of demonstrating and understanding the rotordynamic behaviours experienced by more complex rotors. The behaviour of bearings, rotor support structures, sealing arrangements, rotor unbalance and rotor balancing will also be considered, and an overview of how these components impact on the rotordynamics will be introduced and discussed.

The course will include an introduction, and some hands-on application, to the analytical methods used to solve and assess the behaviour of real rotors using state of the art software tools. Through several real rotor case studies, the principles and performance measures covered early in the course will be practically applied by the delegates through the use of modern rotordynamic software tools.
The Key Topic Areas covered in the Course:

• Introduction to Rotordynamics and what this means for real machines
• Practical explanation and exploration of the fundamental characteristics of rotor dynamics and how this relates to rotating machines, such as: -
  Natural frequencies
  Critical speeds
  Rotor mode shapes
  Jeffcott rotors
  Shaft whirl
• Lateral and torsional vibration of rotors
• Rotor unbalance and balancing methods
• Influence of rotor bearing supports and types (hydrodynamic bearings and seals)
• Practical modelling methods and hands-on application of modelling rotors
• Real rotor case studies with hands-on modelling exploring the impact on rotor behaviour and performanceI
• Interpretation and presentation of rotordynamic results of modelled and real rotors

The course will also provide an opportunity for open discussion on delegate rotordynamic experiences and machine applications. The course has a strong practical focus, whilst also covering the necessary introduction to the analytical theories involved.

The course will provide a sound footing for currently practicing engineers or those newly entering the field of rotating machines, as well as acting as a refresher course for those involved in the design or field operation of rotating machinery.

Who should attend

The course is designed for personnel who are dealing with the design of rotating machines be it in Oil and Gas, power generation or automotive. Also, it is designed for engineers who are operation oriented to enhance their asset availability and reliability as well as rotating machines preventive maintenance optimisation and components upgrade and retrofit.

Although the course is suitable for engineers with minimal previous exposure to Rotordynamics, it would also be useful for staff with limited experience in the field but who wish to consolidate their own understanding of the subject through a guided review of the basics together with the contact with advanced aspects of the topic and its active application in an industrial setting.

Speakers

The course is delivered by Drs Paul Bradley and Mohammed Al Yahyai both of whom are experienced practitioners in the field of industrial Rotordynamics.

Dr Mohammed Al Yahyai, Senior Rotating Equipment Engineer – Petroleum Development, Oman.

Dr Paul Bradley, Director, Dynamechs Technology.

Concessions

20% discount for Cranfield Alumni. 
10% discount when registering 3 or more delegates, from the same organisation at the same time.  

Location and travel

Cranfield University is situated in Bedfordshire close to the border with Buckinghamshire. The University is located almost midway between the towns of Bedford and Milton Keynes and is conveniently situated between junctions 13 and 14 of the M1.

London Luton, Stansted and Heathrow airports are 30, 90 and 90 minutes respectively by car, offering superb connections to and from just about anywhere in the world.

For further location and travel details.

Accommodation

Subject to availability, it may be possible to book accommodation on campus namely at our Mitchell Hall hotel. All rooms are en-suite and available on a half-board basis from Sunday to Friday. Please contact the Short Course Office for the cost of this accommodation package. Alternatively you may wish to make your own arrangements at a nearby hotel.

Location address

Cranfield University
College Road
Cranfield
Bedford
MK43 0AL