Step-By-Step guide to calculating the critical speed of
a rotating part in a gearbox using KissSoft:
Step 1: Define the Shaft Geometry
1. Open KissSoft: Launch the KissSoft software and start a new project or open an existing
one that includes the shaft you want to analyze.
2. Input Shaft Dimensions:
o Go to the Shaft Calculation module.
o Enter the length of the shaft.
o Define the diameter(s) of the shaft. If the shaft has multiple sections with different
diameters, input each section separately.
o Specify any fillets, steps, or keyways that might affect the shaft's dynamics.
3. Material Properties:
o Enter the material properties for the shaft. The two most important properties for
critical speed analysis are:
Young's Modulus (E): This affects the shaft's stiffness.
Density (ρ): This affects the mass distribution along the shaft.
Step 2: Input Bearing Locations and Types
1. Define Bearing Locations:
o Specify the locations of the bearings along the shaft. This is crucial because the
bearings provide support and define the boundary conditions for the shaft's
vibration modes.
o You can do this by adding support points in the shaft model within the Bearing
Position section.
2. Select Bearing Types:
o Choose the type of bearing at each support location (e.g., fixed, floating, roller, or
ball bearing). Different bearings can offer varying levels of stiffness, which
influence the critical speeds.
o KissSoft allows you to input bearing stiffness values if known, or you can select
standard bearing types that come with predefined stiffness characteristics.
Step 3: Define the Masses and Inertia
1. Add Rotating Components:
o Input the masses and moments of inertia for any rotating components attached to
the shaft, such as gears, pulleys, or flywheels.
o These can be added in the Masses and Inertia section, where you can specify the
location along the shaft and the corresponding mass and rotational inertia.
2. Mass Distribution:
o KissSoft allows you to define whether these masses are concentrated at specific
points (e.g., a gear mounted at a certain position) or distributed along the length of
the shaft.
Step 4: Set the Speed Range
1. Define Operating Speed:
o Determine the range of rotational speeds at which the gearbox will operate. This
is important to compare with the calculated critical speeds.
o Input this range into the analysis settings, typically found in the Operating
Conditions section.
Step 5: Perform Critical Speed Analysis
1. Run the Analysis:
o In KissSoft, navigate to the Critical Speed Calculation feature within the shaft
module.
o Execute the analysis. The software will calculate the natural frequencies of the
shaft and the associated critical speeds.
2. Interpret Results:
o The software will output a list of critical speeds (e.g., first critical speed, second
critical speed, etc.).
o These critical speeds correspond to the natural frequencies of the shaft and its
components.
o KissSoft typically provides a graphical representation showing these critical
speeds on a Campbell diagram (a plot of natural frequencies against shaft speed).
Step 6: Review and Optimize
1. Compare with Operating Speeds:
o Compare the calculated critical speeds with the operating speed range of the
gearbox.
o Ideally, the critical speeds should be outside the gearbox's normal operating speed
range to avoid resonance.
2. Modify Design if Necessary:
o If a critical speed is too close to or within the operating range, you may need to
modify the shaft design. This could involve:
Changing the shaft diameter or material to alter its stiffness.
Adjusting the positions of bearings to change the boundary conditions.
Redistributing the mass along the shaft.
o Re-run the analysis after any modifications to ensure the critical speeds are now
outside the operating range.
Additional Tips:
Use Damping: If it's not possible to move the critical speeds out of the operating range,
you might consider increasing damping in the system to reduce the amplitude of
vibrations at critical speeds.
Multiple Shafts: For complex gearboxes with multiple shafts, repeat this analysis for
each shaft to ensure all rotating parts are safe from resonance.
