A　numerical　method　was　investigated　for　the　prediction　of　imminence　of　rotating　stall　in　a　compressor　by　using　the　properties　of　the　response　to　periodic　disturbance　conditions.　Taking　a　single　stage　low　speed　low-pressure　axial　compressor　as　the　research　object,　full　annulus,　unsteady,　three　dimensional　CFD　has　been　used　to　simulate　the　rotating　stall　phenomenon　of　the　compressor.　Based　on　the　CFD　data　with　rotating　distorted　inflow　conditions,　the　investigation　was　proposed　to　study　the　impact　on　the　spatial　mode　under　the　perturbation　of　rotating　distortions　with　respect　to　the　bifurcation　parameter.　And　the　effect　was　also　observed　on　the　identification　of　rotating　stall　by　using　the　sensitivity　of　amplitude　of　spatial　mode.　It　was　shown　that　both　the　amplitudes　and　sensitivity　of　amplitudes　of　first　and　second　spatial　modes　to　the　variation　of　the　bifurcation　parameter　increased　significantly　when　approaching　instable　boundary　under　different　inflow　distortions.　By　monitoring　the　sensitivity　of　amplitude　of　first　spatial　mod　as　criterion　via　the　perturbation　of　inlet　distortion,　the　imminence　of　rotating　stall　could　be　identified　better　before　its　inception　than　with　clean　inflow　condition.　©　2016,　Editorial　Department　of　Journal　of　Propulsion　Technology.　All　right　reserved.