A shaft is modelled using three-dimensional solid finite elements. The shea
r-deformation and rotary inertia effects are automatically included through
the three-dimensional elasticity formulation. The formulation allows warpi
ng of plane cross-sections and takes care of gyroscopic effect. Unlike a be
am element model, the present model allows the actual rotor geometry to be
modelled. Shafts with complicated geometry can be modelled provided that th
e shaft cross-section has two axes of symmetry with equal or unequal second
moment of areas. The acceleration of a point on the shaft is determined in
inertial and rotating frames. It is found that the finite element formulat
ion becomes much simpler in a rotating frame of reference that rotates abou
t the centre-line of the bearings with an angular velocity equal to the sha
ft spin speed. The finite element formulation in the above frame is ideally
suited to non-circular shafts with solid or hollow, prismatic or tapered s
ections and continuous or abrupt change in cross-sections. The shaft and th
e disc can be modelled using the same types of element and this makes it po
ssible to take into account the flexibility of the disc. The formulation al
so allows edge cracks to be modelled. A two-dimensional model of shaft disc
systems executing synchronous whirl on isotropic bearings is presented. Th
e application of the two-dimensional formulation is limited but it reduces
the number of degrees of freedom. The three-dimensional solid and two-dimen
sional plane stress finite element models are extensively validated using s
tandard available results.