Nonlinear Coupled Torsion/Lateral Vibration and Sommerfeld Behavior in a Double U-Joint Driveshaft

Abstract Many driveline systems are designed to accommodate angular misalignment by the use of flexible couplings or Universal Joints (U-Joints) which link individual shaft segments. The Sommerfeld effect is a nonlinear phenomenon observed in some rotor systems being driven through a critical speed when there is not enough power to accelerate the rotor through resonance. Previous studies have shown that rotor speed can become captured when transitioning through natural frequencies due to nonlinear interactions between a non-ideal driving input and rotor imbalance. This paper, for the first time, shows that this type of rotor speed capture phenomena can also be induced by driveline misalignment. During rotor spinup under constant motor torque, it is found that misalignment-induced rotor speed capture phenomena can occur as the shaft speed approaches ½ the first elastic torsional natural frequency. Depending on misalignment level and motor torque, the shaft speed will either dwell near this speed and then pass through, or the speed will become trapped. Here, a nonlinear rotordynamics model of a segmented driveshaft connected by two U-joints including effects of angular misalignment and load torque is developed for the study. This analysis also determines the minimum driveline misalignment angle for which the shaft speed capture phenomena will occur for a given motor torque and load torque condition.