Program for Simulating Rotor Dynamics on Personal Computers

ARDS (Analysis of RotorDynamic Systems) is a public-domain computer program that simulates transient and steady-state dynamics of a rotary machine that can include as many as five interconnected flexible shafts. ARDS can be used to analyze the dynamics of such diverse machines as turbocompressors, turbopumps, gas turbines, steam turbines coupled with electric generators, power-transmission shafts, and other rotating machinery in which the flexibility of shafts is significant. Researchers at Arizona State University wrote the original version of ARDS in the FORTRAN 77 language during the early 1980s for execution on a mainframe computer. Retaining the original FORTRAN 77 language and capabilities, the code was modified into the present version, denoted ARDS-PC, for execution on personal computers. ARDS-PC is also readily convertible to a FORTRAN 90 version for personal computers.