Stability and Vibration Characteristics of a Universal Joint-Suspended Rigid Body

摘要

The stability and vibration characteristics of a steady rotating rigid body suspended by a universal joint are investigated. A rigid body suspended by a steady rotating universal joint (rotations of the internal gimbal and the rigid body are elastically restrained) and a steady rotating rigid body, suspended by a universal joint (rotations of the internal and external gimbal are elastically restrained) are compared. It is concluded that the regions of stability of both cases coincide when the spring stiffnesses are equal. Depending on the mass distribution of the body, the elastic connections can be stabilizing or destabilizing. The frequency paths are identical for both cases.