About

/About
About 2018-04-21T20:52:13+00:00

Rotordynamics and Machinery

The rotordynamics modeling of rotating machinery has become a relatively mature science in the past 30 years. The importance of rotordynamics has increased over the last few decades as machine speeds have increased and higher flows and efficiencies have had the side effect of introducing problems with critical speeds, unbalance response and rotor stability.

  • Research & Design – The first objective of rotordynamics is to identify the resonant frequencies present in a system, determine their severity and, if necessary, design the system around them.

  • Critical Speed Map – One of the most useful tools available to anyone evaluating the rotordynamics of a rotor bearing system is the undamped critical speed map.

  • Stability Analysis – Associated with every resonance or critical speed is a mode shape. Mode shapes are only defined at resonance and are independent of the forcing function.

In order to use rotor dynamics as a tool to solve machinery problems, one must first look at what factors can be altered to make the machinery operate with less vibration and stress. In most cases this means changing or altering different machine components since replacing a machine is often too costly or impractical.

 

 

 

 

Meet Malcolm

Malcolm is the Founder of Applied Machinery Dynamics. The company focuses on rotordynamics, bearing and seal design for turbomachinery. Other Specialties: Design Audits, Uprates, and Fixing Vibration Problems.

Malcolm E. Leader, P.E.
Malcolm E. Leader, P.E.Professional Engineer
Malcolm Leader is the owner of Applied Machinery Dynamics Company in Durango, Colorado. After working for Monsanto Company in Texas City, Texas for 9 years, Malcolm has run his own turbomachinery consulting business for 31 years. With a focus on providing practical solutions, he specializes in lateral rotordynamics including bearing and seal optimizations as well as steady state and transient torsional analyses and coupling design. He has analyzed and improved the stability and reliability of over 206 rotating equipment trains. He also offers field diagnostics of machinery problems and advanced vibration testing and analysis. Specialized training courses are also offered regularly. Expert Witness testimony is available.
Malcolm received his BSME in 1977 and his MSME in 1978 from the University of Virginia. He is certified category 4 by the Vibration Institute and is a member of the Vibration Institute board of directors. Malcolm has more than 36 publications in the machinery and rotordynamics fields. He is an ASME Fellow, and a registered Professional Engineer in the state of Texas.

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