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COMSOL Multiphysics® 6.1 Release Highlights

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Rotordynamics Module Updates

For users of the Rotordynamics Module, COMSOL Multiphysics® version 6.1 introduces a new feature to model rotor rub, access to results variables expressed in a given coordinate system, and two new tutorial models. Learn about these updates and more below.

Rotor Rub Modeling

If a rotor touches its housing, the effect on the dynamics can be dramatic. This phenomenon, called rotor rub, can now be modeled in the Beam Rotor interface with the new Rotor Rub feature. Modeling of the contact between the rotor and the housing can also now take the effects of friction into account.

The COMSOL Multiphysics UI showing the Model Builder and two Graphics windows.
Orbit plots for a rotor with an eccentricity, showing results without taking the housing into account (left) and with a clearance to the housing that is only slightly larger than the orbit center (right). The plots show subcritical rotor speed in blue (50% of the whirl frequency) and supercritical rotor speed in green (130% of the whirl frequency).

Results in Local Coordinate Systems

It is now easy to define any arbitrary number of local coordinate systems by adding Local System Results nodes for the evaluation of common quantities in the Solid Rotor and Solid Rotor, Fixed Frame interfaces. Among the available transformed quantities, you will find stresses, strains, displacements, and material properties.

Three rotor shafts showing the shear stress in the Wave Light color table.
Shear stress due to torsion. One local cylindrical coordinate system is used for each shaft.

Predefined Plots

A new general functionality for predefined plots has been added. A predefined plot is similar to a default plot, but with the important difference that it is not added to the Model Builder until the user selects to do so. This has three advantages:

  • The number of default plots that are generated for each study has been decreased significantly.
  • Several new useful plots are now available from the Add Predefined Plot menu, in addition to the default plots in previous versions.
  • Result plots for intermediate study steps — for example, the loading step in a prestressed dynamic analysis — are directly available.

The COMSOL Multiphysics UI showing the Model Builder with the Results node highlighted, the corresponding Settings window, a Campbell plot in the Graphics window, and the Add Predefined Plot window opened on the right.
The Add Predefined Plot window for the Comparison of Campbell Plots Using Different Rotor Interfaces model.

New Tutorial Models

COMSOL Multiphysics® version 6.1 brings two new tutorial models to the Rotordynamics Module.

Shape Optimization of a Step Thrust Bearing

Four step thrust bearing models showing the optimized results on the left and the original results on the right.
Shape optimization is used to improve a step thrust bearing. The optimized results are shown on the left, and the original configurations are shown on the right. The pressure distribution is shown in the top row, and the lubrication film thickness is shown in the bottom row.

Application Library Title:

step_thrust_bearing_shape_optimization

Download from the Application Gallery

Topology Optimization of a Step Thrust Bearing

Two step thrust bearing models showing the fluid pressure and film thickness.
Step thrust bearing models showing the fluid pressure (left) and lubrication film thickness (right) as results of topology optimization.

Application Library Title:

step_thrust_bearing_topology_optimization

Download from the Application Gallery