A new multi-disk shaft balancing method for rotating machinery using strain gauges

Unbalance is a major factor influencing rotating machinery vibration. In general, vibration problems caused by mass imbalance can be solved by dynamic balancing method. When dynamically balancing a flexible rotor, if the counterweight plane does not coincide with the unbalanced plane, it will cause the rotor to bend and deform, and the bending deformation will produce a new unbalance force. So, it is important to identify the unbalanced force on each plane. A method to solve this problem using strain gauges was presented. The equation to identify unbalance force at three or more planes of a shaft is set up. A series of tests were done on a rotor bearing rig. The tests show that unbalance weights and angles at different rotating speeds were identified with high accuracy. It is a new and effective method for multi-disk shaft balance.