Flexible Rotor Balancing of a High-Speed Gas Turbine Engine

The need for balancing a high-speed rotor in a manner that accounts for its speed-dependent deformations is discussed. The influence coefficient method of flexible rotor balancing is described with reference to the balancing of an advanced gas turbine engine rotor. This engine rotor-bearing system is then studied in detail as an application of flexible rotor balancing, using the influence coefficient method. The relative effectiveness of various combinations of balance speeds and numbers of balance planes is compared.