Modal analysis of ballooning strings with small curvature

During the manufacture and transport of textile products, yarns are rotated at high speed. The surface of revolution generated by the rotating yarn is called a balloon. The dynamic response of the balloon to varying rotation speed, boundary excitation, and aerodynamic disturbances affects the quality of the associated textile product. Resonance, in particular, can cause large tension variations that reduce product quality and may cause yarn breakage. In this paper, the natural frequencies and mode shapes of a single loop balloon are calculated to predict resonance. The three-dimensional nonlinear equations of motion are simplified under assumptions of small displacement and quasi-static axial motion. After linearization, Galerkin’s method is used to calculate the mode shapes and natural frequencies. Experimental measurements of the steady-state balloon shape and the first two natural frequencies and mode shapes are compared with theoretical predictions.