Reliability sensitivity for rotor-stator systems with rubbing

On the basis of the dynamic equations of the Jeffcott rotor-stator model with imbalance, the reliability sensitivity of the rotor-stator systems with rubbing is examined. A statistical fourth moment method is developed to determine the first four moments of system response and state function. The distribution function of the system state function is approximately determined by the standard normal distribution functions using the Edgeworth series technique. The reliability and reliability sensitivity are obtained and the effect on reliability and reliability sensitivity of shaft stiffness and damping, stator stiffness and damping, radial clearance and stator radial stiffness is studied. Numerical results are also presented and discussed. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.