Finite element based dynamic analysis of a porous exponentially graded shaft system subjected to thermal gradients

In modern applications, demand for the rotor shafts made of FGM has increased in aerospace, gas turbine and turbo jet engines due to its improved dynamic characteristics at elevated temperatures. The dynamic vibration response of a functionally graded Jeffcott rotor-bearing system with induced porosities has been studied for non-uniform porosity distributions. The functionally graded (FG) shaft’s radial direction exhibits continuous variation in the material qualities. The FG rotor’s cross-sectional material properties have been graded using the exponential law. The temperature gradients have been considered to be varied across the cross-section based on exponential temperature distribution. For the first time, using the FE method, it has been possible to study the impact of induced porosities on the free vibration frequencies and steady-state vibration responses of the functionally graded rotor-bearing system. This has led to the development of a two-node porous functionally graded rotor element with uneven porosity distributions using the Timoshenko beam theory. It has been observed that the free vibration frequencies and the FG rotor-bearing system critical speeds are affected by increased porosity and thermal gradients. The frequency responses demonstrate that as temperature gradient and volume fraction of porosity rise, the FG rotor-bearing system’s critical speeds shift to the left.