Computer–Aided Design of the Critical Speed of Shafts

ABSTRACT: A computer aided design software for the analysis of the critical speed of shaft, is developed and presented in this work. The software was designed using the principles of object oriented programming, and implemented with the Microsoft Visual Basic Language. The package was tested on a number of benchmark design problems. The solutions obtained were highly accurate. Also, the software exhibited very high efficiency. To improve on the method of presenting these solutions, graphical features were incorporated. This enhances the ability to visualize results. @ JASEM All rotating shafts, even in the absence of external load, deflect during rotation. The magnitude of the deflection depends upon stiffness of the shaft and its supports, the total mass of shaft and attached part, the unbalance of the mass with respect to the axis of rotation, and the amount of damping in the system. As long as the deflections are minimal, the shaft can still operate satisfactorily. However, as the speeds increase, the shafts become unstable. Thus, there i