Deceleration of an Unbalanced Rotor Through a Critical Speed

The problem of a single-degree-of-freedom rotor decelerating slowly through its critica speed is solved by an energy approach; a closed solution is obtained. A small discontinuous downward jump of rotor speed across the critical speed is shown to be required, either with or without damping in the system. The maximum increment of deflection, hence bending stress, in the rotor shaft is shown to be small, provided the rotor is carefully balanced and/or the system is sufficiently damped.