THE CRITICAL SPEEDS OF TORSIONAL VIBRATION

Vibrations of several kinds can occur in crankshafts, but the principal ones are transverse and torsional; the paper deals entirely with the latter. A simple case of torsional vibration is considered first and the principles are applied to the torsional vibration of a shaft, the argument being carried forward at some length. A discussion of critical speeds follows and this is supplemented by a lengthy mathematical analysis, inclusive of diagrams.

Calculations were made to determine the period of the shafting of United States submarines S4 to S13 and these are described. The three cases investigated include the charging condition when the engine is driving the dynamo, the after clutch being disconnected; the surface condition, when the engine drives the propeller; and the submerged condition, when the motors drive the propeller, the forward clutch being disconnected. Calculations were made also with a Sperry magnetic clutch substituted for the usual flywheel and clutch.