Transient Response of a Short-Length (L/D = 0.2) Open-Ends Elastically Supported Squeeze Film Damper: Centered and Largely Off-Centered Whirl Motions

Author(s):  
Luis San Andrés ◽  
Sean Den ◽  
Sung-Hwa Jeung

Commonly employed in air breathing (gas turbine) engines, squeeze film dampers (SFDs) reduce the amplitude of rotor vibration while traversing system critical speeds or in transient events such as during a maneuver load, a hard landing, a blade loss, or an engine startup/shutdown sequence that could instantaneously shift a damper journal eccentricity (es) to near its clearance (c). Experiments investigate the dynamic force performance of an open ends, short-length (L/D = 0.2) SFD test rig with radial clearance c = 267 μm and undergoing centered (es/c = 0) to largely off-centered (es/c → 1) whirl orbit motions induced by both a large static load plus a dynamic load. Four rods, symmetrically arranged to resemble a squirrel cage, elastically support the SFD test rig. A hydraulic load system displaces the test damper structure into static eccentricity (es/c). One of two types of dynamic load with amplitude FX = FY excite the SFD: a single-frequency, stepping from low frequency to high frequency discretely; or a sine-sweep frequency growing linearly with time at 6 Hz/s, 33 Hz/s, 40 Hz/s, or 55 Hz/s. For motions departing from es/c = 0.0, 0.95, and 0.99, the dynamic load uses a sine-sweep frequency varying from 5 Hz to 245 Hz and evolving rapidly at ∼33 Hz/s. Measurements of SFD displacements characterize the behavior of the SFD rig during its transient response which crosses two system natural frequencies. For motions departing from a largely off-centered condition (es → c), the dynamic load forces the damper to whirl with highly elliptical orbits, in particular while crossing a resonance (damped natural frequency). Moreover, the dynamic motions departing from es ∼ c are smaller in amplitude than those arising from a centered condition (es/c = 0). The larger damping produced by a very small squeeze film thickness explains the difference in response amplitude. At a largely off-centered condition (es/c = 0.99) and a low excitation frequency (f < 40 Hz), intermittent contact between the damper journal and its housing occurs as evidenced by a large magnitude recorded dynamic pressure (on the order of MPa). For whirl motions around various static eccentricity positions, es/c = 0.0–0.75, the dynamic load covers a frequency range from 10 Hz to 100 Hz using either a single-frequency excitation or a sine-sweep frequency excitation with a slow growth rate ∼6.5 Hz/s to induce a quasi-steady-state response. The experimental procedure builds complex stiffness in the frequency domain for identification of SFD stiffness, damping, and added mass force coefficients, (K, C, M)SFD. For motions centered around small to large static eccentricities, es/c = 0–0.75, the identified (K, C, M)SFD coefficients from sine-sweep frequency dynamic loads coincide with those extracted from single-frequency dynamic load tests over the same frequency range. Short-length SFD theory predictions for damping coefficients agree with the experimental results. Predicted added mass or inertia coefficients, like the model, fall short of the target experimental magnitudes. The test results give practitioners the credence to certify the ability of a SFD to control rotor response amplitude during typical transient events.

Author(s):  
Luis San Andrés ◽  
Sean Den ◽  
Sung-Hwa Jeung

Commonly employed in air breathing (gas turbine) engines, squeeze film dampers (SFDs) reduce the amplitude of rotor vibration while traversing system critical speeds or in transient events such as during a maneuver load, a hard landing, a blade loss, or an engine startup/shutdown sequence that could instantaneously shift a damper journal eccentricity (es) to near its clearance (c). Experiments investigate the dynamic force performance of an open ends, short-length (L/D=0.2) SFD test rig with radial clearance c=267 μm and undergoing centered (es/c=0) to largely off-centered (es/c → 1) whirl orbit motions induced by both a large static load plus a dynamic load. Four rods, symmetrically arranged to resemble a squirrel cage, elastically support the SFD test rig. A hydraulic load system displaces the test damper structure into static eccentricity (es/c). One of two types of dynamic load with amplitude FX=FY excite the SFD: a single-frequency, stepping from low frequency to high frequency discretely; or a sine-sweep frequency growing linearly with time at 6 Hz/s, 33 Hz/s, 40 Hz/s, or 55 Hz/s. For motions departing from es/c=0.0, 0.95, and 0.99 the dynamic load uses a sine-sweep frequency varying from 5 Hz to 245 Hz and evolving rapidly at ∼33 Hz/s. Measurements of SFD displacements characterize the behavior of the SFD rig during its transient response which crosses two system natural frequencies. For motions departing from a largely off-centered condition (es → c), the dynamic load forces the damper to whirl with highly elliptical orbits, in particular while crossing a resonance (damped natural frequency). Moreover, the dynamic motions departing from es∼c are smaller in amplitude than those arising from a centered condition (es/c=0). The larger damping produced by a very small squeeze film thickness explains the difference in response amplitude. At a largely off-centered condition (es/c=0.99) and a low excitation frequency (f < 40 Hz), intermittent contact between the damper journal and its housing occurs as evidenced by a large magnitude recorded dynamic pressure (on the order of MPa). For whirl motions around various static eccentricity positions, es/c=0.0–0.75, the dynamic load covers a frequency range from 10 Hz to 100 Hz using either a single-frequency excitation or a sine-sweep frequency excitation with a slow growth rate ∼6.5 Hz/s to induce a quasi-steady-state response. The experimental procedure builds complex stiffnesses in the frequency domain for identification of SFD stiffness, damping, and added mass force coefficients, (K, C, M)SFD. For motions centered around small to large static eccentricities, es/c=0–0.75, the identified (K, C, M)SFD coefficients from sine-sweep frequency dynamic loads coincide with those extracted from single-frequency dynamic load tests over the same frequency range. Short-length SFD theory predictions for damping coefficients agree with the experimental results. Predicted added mass or inertia coefficients, like the model, fall short of the target experimental magnitudes. The test results give practitioners the credence to certify the ability of a SFD to control rotor response amplitude during typical transient events.


Author(s):  
Luis San Andrés ◽  
Sung-Hwa Jeung ◽  
Gary Bradley

Squeeze Film Dampers (SFDs) are effective to ameliorate shaft vibration amplitudes and to suppress instabilities in rotor-bearing systems. Compact aero jet engines implement ultra-short length SFDs (L/D ≤ 0.2) to satisfy stringent weight and space demands with low parts count. This paper describes a test campaign to identify the dynamic forced response of an open ends SFD (L=25.4 mm, D=125.7 mm), single film land and oil fed through three holes (120° apart), operating with similar conditions as in an aircraft engine. Two journals make for two SFD films with clearances cA=0.129 mm and cB=0.254 mm (small and large). The total oil wetted length equals Ltot=36.8 mm that includes deep end grooves, width and depth = 2.5 × 3.8 mm, for installation of end seals. In the current experiments, the end seals are not in place. A hydraulic static loader pulls the bearing cartridge (BC) to a preset static eccentricity (eS) and two electromagnetic shakers excite the BC with single frequency loads to create circular orbits, centered and off-centered, over a prescribed frequency range ω=10–100Hz. The whirl amplitudes range from r=0.05cA–0.6cA and r=0.15cB–0.75cB while the static eccentricity increases to eS=0.5cA and eS=0.75cB, respectively. Comparisons of force coefficients between the two identical dampers with differing clearances show that the small clearance damper (cA) provides ∼4 times more damping and ∼1.8 times the inertia coefficients than the damper with large clearance (cB). The test results demonstrate damping scales with ∼1/c3 and inertia with ∼1/c, as theory also shows. Analysis of the measured film land pressures evidence that the deep end grooves contribute to the generation of dynamic pressures enhancing the dynamic forced response of the test SFDs. A thin film flow model with an effective groove depth delivers predictions that closely match the test damping and inertia coefficients. Other predictions, based on the short length bearing model, use an effective length Leff ∼1.17L to deliver damping coefficients 15% larger than the experimental results; however, inertia coefficients are ½ of the identified magnitudes. The experiments and analysis complement earlier experimental work conducted with centrally grooved SFDs.


Author(s):  
Sung-Hwa Jeung ◽  
Luis San Andrés ◽  
Gary Bradley

Squeeze film dampers (SFDs) are effective to ameliorate shaft vibration amplitudes and to suppress instabilities in rotor–bearing systems. Compact aero jet engines implement ultra-short length SFDs (L/D ≤ 0.2) to satisfy stringent weight and space demands with low parts count. This paper describes a test campaign to identify the dynamic forced response of an open ends SFD (L = 25.4 mm and D = 125.7 mm), single film land, and oil fed through three holes (120 deg apart), operating with similar conditions as in an aircraft engine. Two journals make for two SFD films with clearances cA = 0.129 mm and cB = 0.254 mm (small and large). The total oil-wetted length equals Ltot = 36.8 mm that includes deep end grooves, width and depth = 2.5 × 3.8 mm, for installation of end seals. In the current experiments, the end seals are not in place. A hydraulic static loader pulls the bearing cartridge (BC) to a preset static eccentricity (eS), and two electromagnetic shakers excite the BC with single frequency loads to create circular orbits, centered and off-centered, over a prescribed frequency range ω = 10–100 Hz. The whirl amplitudes range from r = 0.05cA–0.6cA and r = 0.15cB–0.75cB while the static eccentricity increases to eS = 0.5cA and eS = 0.75cB, respectively. Comparisons of force coefficients between the two identical dampers with differing clearances show that the small clearance damper (cA) provides ∼4 times more damping and ∼1.8 times the inertia coefficients than the damper with large clearance (cB). The test results demonstrate damping scales with ∼1/c3 and inertia with ∼1/c, as theory also showed. Analysis of the measured film land pressures evidence that the deep end grooves contribute to the generation of dynamic pressures enhancing the dynamic forced response of the test SFDs. A thin film flow model with an effective groove depth delivers predictions that closely match the test damping and inertia coefficients. Other predictions, based on the short length bearing model, use an effective length Leff ∼ 1.17L to deliver damping coefficients 15% larger than the experimental results; however, inertia coefficients are ½ of the identified magnitudes. The experiments and analysis complement earlier experimental work conducted with centrally grooved SFDs.


Author(s):  
R Stanway ◽  
R Firoozian ◽  
J E Mottershead

In this paper the authors present experimental confirmation of the feasibility of a new approach to the estimation of the four damping coefficients associated with a squeeze-film vibration isolator. The design and construction of the experimental facility is described in detail. A time-domain filtering algorithm is applied to process the displacement responses to single-frequency excitation and thus extract information on the linearized dynamics of the squeeze-film. The estimated coefficients are validated by comparing performance predictions with those obtained from spectrum analysis and from short-bearing theory. The significance of the results is discussed and suggestions are made for further work in this area.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luis San Andrés ◽  
Bryan Rodríguez

Abstract In rotor-bearing systems, squeeze film dampers (SFDs) assist to reduce vibration amplitudes while traversing a critical speed and also offer a means to suppress rotor instabilities. Along with an elastic support element, SFDs are effective means to isolate a rotor from its casing. O-rings (ORs), piston rings (PRs) and side plates as end seals reduce leakage and air ingestion while amplifying the viscous damping in configurations with limited physical space. ORs also add a centering stiffness and damping to a SFD. The paper presents experiments to quantify the dynamic forced response of an O-rings sealed ends SFD (OR-SFD) lubricated with ISO VG2 oil supplied at a low pressure (0.7 bar(g)). The damper is 127 mm in diameter (D), short in axial length L = 0.2D, and the film clearance c = 0.279 mm. The lubricant flows into the film land through a mechanical check valve and exits through a single port. Upstream of the check valve, a large plenum filled with oil serves to attenuate dynamic pressure disturbances. Multiple sets of single-frequency dynamic loads, 10 Hz to 120 Hz, produce circular centered orbits with amplitudes r = 0.1c, 0.15c and 0.2c. The experimental results identify the test rig structure, ORs and SFD force coefficients; namely stiffness (K), mass (M) and viscous damping (C). The ORs coefficients are frequency independent and show a sizeable direct stiffness, KOR ∼ 50% of the test rig structure stiffness, along with a quadrature stiffness, K0∼0.26 KOR, demonstrative of material damping. The lubricated system damping coefficient equals CL = (CSFD + COR); the ORs contributing 10% to the total. The experimental SFD damping and inertia coefficients are large in physical magnitude; CSFD slightly grows with orbit size whereas MSFD is relatively constant. The added mass (MSFD) is approximately four-fold the bearing cartridge mass; hence, the test rig natural frequency drops by ∼50% once lubricated. A computational physics model predicts force coefficients that are just 10% lower than those estimated from experiments. The amplitude of measured dynamic pressures upstream of the plenum increases with excitation frequency. Unsuspectedly, during dynamic load operation, the check valve did allow for lubricant backflow into the plenum. Post-tests verification demonstrates that, under static pressure conditions, the check valve does work since it allows fluid flow in just one direction.


Author(s):  
Luis San Andrés

Aircraft engine rotors are particularly sensitive to rotor imbalance and sudden maneuver loads, since they are always supported on rolling element bearings with little damping. Most engines incorporate squeeze film dampers (SFDs) as means to dissipate mechanical energy from rotor vibrations and to ensure system stability. The paper quantifies experimentally the forced performance of a SFD comprising two parallel film lands separated by a deep central groove. Tests are conducted on two open ends SFDs, both with diameter D = 127 mm and nominal radial clearance c = 0.127 mm. One damper has film lands with length L = 12.7 mm (short length), while the other has 25.4 mm land lengths. The central groove has width L and depth 3/4 L. A light viscosity lubricant flows into the central groove via three orifices, 120 deg apart and then through the film lands to finally exit to ambient. In operation, a static loader pulls the bearing to various eccentric positions and electromagnetic shakers excite the test system with periodic loads to generate whirl orbits of specific amplitudes. A frequency domain method identifies the SFD damping and inertia force coefficients. The long damper generates six times more damping and about three times more added mass than the short length damper. The damping coefficients are sensitive to the static eccentricity (up to ∼ 0.5 c), while showing lesser dependency on the amplitude of whirl motion (up to 0.2 c). On the other hand, inertia coefficients increase mildly with static eccentricity and decrease as the amplitude of whirl motion increases. Cross-coupled force coefficients are insignificant for all imposed operating conditions on either damper. Large dynamic pressures recorded in the central groove demonstrate the groove does not isolate the adjacent squeeze film lands, but contributes to the amplification of the film lands’ reaction forces. Predictions from a novel SFD model that includes flow interactions in the central groove and feed orifices agree well with the test force coefficients for both dampers. The test data and predictions advance current knowledge and demonstrate that SFD-forced performance is tied to the lubricant feed arrangement.


Author(s):  
Philip Bonello ◽  
Michael J. Brennan ◽  
Roy Holmes

The study of eccentric squeeze film damped rotor dynamic systems has largely concentrated on rigid rotors. In this paper, a newly developed receptance harmonic balance method is used to efficiently analyze a squeeze film damped flexible rotor test rig. The aim of the study is to investigate the influence of damper static eccentricity and unbalance level on cavitation and its resulting effect on the vibration level. By comparing predictions for the rotor vibration levels obtained respectively with, and without, lower pressure limits for the eccentric squeeze film damper model, it is demonstrated that cavitation is promoted by increasing static eccentricity and/or unbalance level. This, in turn, is found to have a profound effect on the predictions for the critical vibration levels, which such dampers are designed to attenuate. The reported findings are backed by experimental evidence from the test rig.


Author(s):  
Luis San Andrés

Aircraft engine rotors are particularly sensitive to rotor imbalance and sudden maneuver loads since they are always supported on rolling element bearings with little damping. Most engines incorporate Squeeze Film Dampers (SFDs) as means to dissipate mechanical energy from rotor vibrations and to ensure system stability. The paper quantifies experimentally the forced performance of a SFD comprising two parallel film lands separated by a deep central groove. Tests are conducted on two open ends SFDs, both with diameter D = 127 mm and nominal radial clearance c = 0.127 mm. One damper has film lands with length L = 12.7 mm (short length), while the other has 25.4 mm land lengths. The central groove has width L and depth 3/4 L. A light viscosity lubricant flows into the central groove via three orifices, 120° apart, and then through the film lands to finally exit to ambient. In operation, a static loader pulls the bearing to various eccentric positions and electromagnetic shakers excite the test system with periodic loads to generate whirl orbits of specific amplitudes. A frequency domain method identifies the SFD damping and inertia force coefficients. The long damper generates six times more damping and ∼three times more added mass than the short length damper. The damping coefficients are sensitive to the static eccentricity (up to ∼0.5c) while showing lesser dependency on the amplitude of whirl motion (up to 0.2c). On the other hand, inertia coefficients increase mildly with static eccentricity and decrease as the amplitude of whirl motion increases. Cross-coupled force coefficients are insignificant for all imposed operating conditions on either damper. Large dynamic pressures recorded in the central groove demonstrate the groove does not isolate the adjacent squeeze film lands but contributes to the amplification of the film lands’ reaction forces. Predictions from a novel SFD model that includes flow interactions in the central groove and feed orifices agree well with the test force coefficients for both dampers. The test data and predictions advance current knowledge and demonstrate SFD forced performance is tied to the lubricant feed arrangement.


Author(s):  
Luis San Andrés ◽  
Sanjeev Seshagiri

Aircraft engine rotors, invariably supported on rolling element bearings with little damping, are particularly sensitive to rotor imbalance and sudden maneuver loads. Most engines incorporate squeeze film dampers (SFDs) as a means to dissipate mechanical energy from rotor motions and to ensure system stability. The paper experimentally quantifies the dynamic forced performance of two end sealed SFDs with dimensions and an operating envelope akin to those in actual jet engine applications. The current experimental results complement and extend prior research conducted with open ends SFDs (San Andrés, 2012, “Damping and Inertia Coefficients for Two Open Ends Squeeze Film Dampers With a Central Groove: Measurements and Predictions,” ASME J. Eng. Gas Turbines Power, 134, p. 102506). In the tests, two journals make for two SFD configurations, both with a diameter D = 127 mm and nominal radial film clearance c = 0.127 mm. One short length damper has film lands with extent L = 12.7 mm, while the other has 25.4 mm ( = 2L) land lengths. A central groove of length LG = L and depth at ¾ L separates the film lands. A light viscosity lubricant is supplied into the central groove via three orifices, 120 deg apart, and then flows through the film lands whose ends are sealed with tight piston rings. The oil pushes through the piston rings to discharge at ambient pressure. In the tests, a static load device pulls the damper structure to increasing eccentricities (maximum 0.38c) and external shakers exert single-frequency loads 50–250 Hz, inducing circular orbits with amplitudes equaling ∼5% of the film clearance. The lubricant feed and groove pressures and flow rates through the top and bottom film lands are recorded to determine the flow resistances through the film lands and the end seals. Measured dynamic pressures in the central groove are as large as those in the film lands, thus demonstrating a strong flow interaction, further intensified by the piston ring end seals which are effective in preventing side leakage. Dynamic pressures and reaction loads are substantially higher than those recorded with the open ends dampers. Comparisons to test results for two identical damper configurations but open ended (San Andrés, 2012, “Damping and Inertia Coefficients for Two Open Ends Squeeze Film Dampers With a Central Groove: Measurements and Predictions,” ASME J. Eng. Gas Turbines Power, 134, p. 102506) demonstrate at least a threefold increase in direct damping coefficients and no less than a double increment in added mass coefficients. Predictions from a physics-based model that includes the central groove, the lubricant feed holes, and the end seals' flow conductances are in agreement with the test results for the short length damper. For the long damper, the predicted damping coefficients are in good agreement with the measurements, while the added masses are under-predicted by ∼25%.


2004 ◽  
Vol 126 (4) ◽  
pp. 855-866 ◽  
Author(s):  
Philip Bonello ◽  
Michael J. Brennan ◽  
Roy Holmes

In this paper, the nonlinear interaction between an eccentric squeeze film damper and an unbalanced flexible rotor is investigated, paying particular attention to the effect of cavitation in the damper. A harmonic balance method that uses the receptance functions of the rotating linear part of the system to determine periodic solutions to the nonlinear problem is used to predict vibration levels in a test rig. By comparing predictions obtained respectively with, and without, lower pressure limits for the squeeze film damper model, it is concluded that cavitation is promoted by increasing static eccentricity and/or unbalance level. This, in turn, is found to have a profound effect on the predictions for the critical vibration levels, which such dampers are designed to attenuate. Experimental results are presented to support the findings.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document