What is a critical speed?

The object is said to achieve a critical speed when the speed of its rotation corresponds to one of its natural frequencies. The critical speed is studied in the Physics branch known as Rotordynamics, which deals with a rotary or angular movement. A rotating object, such as a propeller or a centrifugal pump, must often go through one or more critical speeds when it accelerates or slows down. In critical speeds, these objects vibrate at high amplitude, which can cause damage.

All objects that consist of elastic material have one or more natural frequencies. The natural frequency of the object is the number of times how many times it will move back and forth as soon as it is set to move. When the building vibrates at one of its natural frequencies, it is said that it has resonance or a large vibrating amplitude. For example, in a musical instrument, this resonance is desirable because it causes natural amplification of the sound of the tool. In Rotordynamic, However, this resonance is undesirablebecause it causes mechanical pieces to vibrate strongly, which can damage the system.

There are a number of stimuli that can cause resonance, one of which is rotating movement. When the rotary movement of the object, also called angular speed, causes resonance, it is at a critical speed. The rotating mechanical objects must be designed to quickly pass through these critical speeds, so that the reinforced vibrations that occur at this speed do not cause damage.

spinned pump or propeller when accelerating or slowing down at different angle speeds. While such a moving system will naturally have some vibrations, it is necessary to prevent and amplified vibration at a critical speed if the system is to endure over time. Rotordynamics are therefore very dealing with the solution of different critical speeds can affect the life of a rotating machine.

the lowest rotary FreKvence, which causes the vibration of the object at one of its natural frequencies, is known as its first critical speed. The object may have an endless number of critical speeds, but the most important critical speed for engineers is to consider the first. Some rotating objects are designed to work at their first critical speed, but much rotates above this speed. As long as the rotation speed is rapidly passing at a critical speed, this should not have a significant effect on the life of the rotating machine. However, problems may arise if the object is designed to rotate at its critical speed, as the resulting vibrations could cause the machine to break.