International Journal of Mechanical And Production Engineering, ISSN: 2320-2092, Volume- 5, Issue-1, Jan.

-2017
http://iraj.in
DESIGN, DEVELOPMENT AND ANALYSIS OF SQUEEZE FILM
DAMPERS FOR HIGH SPEED MACHINES
1
L.RASIDHAR, 2AADITYA VIKAS RAWAT, 3SAI ANKIT TRIPATHI, 4SK.ROSHAN ZAMEER
1
Professor Dept. of Mechanical Engg, Guntur Engineering College, Guntur, India
2,3,4
Dept. of Mechanical Engg, Guntur Engineering College , Guntur, India
E-mail: 1lankarasidhar@gmail.com, 2adyrajpoot@gmail.com, 3saiankit1@gmail.com, 4roshanzameer348@gmail.com

Abstract- Present day state of the art in the design of turbo machines has given much scope to the flexible rotor bearing
system. The most recurring problem in rotor dynamics is the excessive steady state synchronous vibration levels. Squeeze
film dampers (SFD) are the essential components of high-speed turbo machines since they offer the advantage of dissipation
of vibration energy and hence prevent rotor dynamic instabilities. A squeeze film damper is used between the bearing and its
foundation to reduce the unbalance forces transmitted to the pedestal by introducing an additional damping and thereby
reduce the amplitude of vibration to acceptable limit. This work highlights the design and development of squeeze film
dampers for high-speed machines in a more generic way. The first phase of the work involves the study of the effect of SFD
on rotor dynamics based on the parameters like, Damping ratio, Logarithmic decrement and Transmissibility. A theoretical
model is generated incorporating the said parameters. The dynamic analysis, which is of two fold, is carried by using the
ARMD software. The rotor dynamic effects are found without SFD and with SFD. The second phase of the work deals with
experimental investigation on a journal-bearing test rig as shown in figure with SFD supports up to a speed of 1800 rpm. At
the end, the vibrations obtained through theoretical analysis and experimental investigations are tabulated. It is concluded
that vibration levels are reduced by using SFD for the specified optimum inputs.

Keywords- Squeeze film dampers, Damping ratio, Logarithmic decrement and Transmissibility

I. INTRODUCTION film damper. He has derived the dynamic properties

Current trends in turbo machinery design for
increased operating speeds and higher specific power
levels have led to lighter and more flexible rotor-
bearing systems. With the higher power levels also
come increased fluid pressure gradients that introduce
more of the destabilizing forces associated with fluid
cross-coupling effects. Consequently, there are an
increasing number of designs that require the
supplemental damping of squeeze film dampers
mounted concentrically with oil film or rolling
element bearings to help attenuate the vibration
response. This is especially true in applications such
as aircraft engines that use rolling element bearings
instead of fluid film bearings, where the inherently
low damping of the rolling element bearings alone
would not be sufficient to attenuate the vibration
response as critical speeds are traversed. In such
systems, it would often be impossible to run at all
without the supplemental damping offered by squeeze
film dampers.
A.Z.Szeri, A.A. Raimondi, A.Giron Duarte [1] in his
study, presented a simplified analysis of viscous
squeeze film damper behavior. It makes use of the
averaged inertia and calculates linear velocity and
inertia coefficients. Luis A.San Andres and John M.
Vance [2] analyzed the effect of fluid inertia on
squeeze film damper forces for small amplitude
circular centered motions. This forms the basis for
calculation of linearized damping and inertia
coefficients. D.C.White [3] an extensive work have
been carried in the analysis and design of squeeze
of squeeze films by applying Ocivirk solutions for
short bearing theory and using them, he analyzed the
stability of rigid rotor mounted on squeeze films by
extending the theory of Cooper. D.W.Parkins [4] in
his theoretical and experimental investigation into the
non-linear dynamic coefficients, i.e. those eight
stiffness and damping coefficients which specify the
lateral flexibility of a hydrodynamic and pressure and
examined a range of positive and negative
displacements and velocities.
L.Della pietra and G.Adileta [5] in his review paper
the main research findings, in the last four decades on
the squeeze film dampers and its applications are
explained. In this a survey of the construction
characteristics and operating features of SFD as a
separate component is reported through a number of
theoretical approaches and experimental results.
J.M.Vance and Alan .J. Kirton [6] designed an
experimental test rig to measure the pressures
generated in squeeze film damper for four different
combinations of eccentricity radial velocity angular
velocity of line of centers chosen as to calculate the
four bearing coefficients as defined by Tondl, under a
constant eccentricity and time varying eccentricity.
Experimental setup required for conducting
experiments on SFD. This include assembling the
components of SFD and fixing on the bearing
pedestal, coupling the motor shaft/step up gear box
with SFD rotor, fixing the Eddy current probes on the
bottom sides of the SFDs for measuring the SFD
radial clearance. Connecting the bearing oil inlets,

Design, Development and Analysis of Squeeze Film Dampers For High Speed Machines

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International Journal of Mechanical And Production Engineering, ISSN: 2320-2092, Volume- 5, Issue-1, Jan.-2017
http://iraj.in
SFD oil inlets with header and connecting the drain damper. If we assume a circular orbit (xo =Yo = )
holes to sump through hosepipes. the above equation can be written as
II. FUNDAMENTAL CONSIDERATIONS IN
(C xx  C yy )    2
SFD DESIGN E   2C 2   (4)
2 C
The amount of damping produced is the critical = 174.2 W
design consideration. If damping is too large the SFD
acts as a rigid constraint to the rotor-bearing system Flow:
with large forces transmitted to the supporting The flow required can be calculated from an
structure. If damping is too small, the damper is energy balance, assuming that all the heat is to be
ineffective and likely to permit large amplitude convected away by the lubricant
vibratory motion with possible sub synchronous QCpT=E
vibration. In the above equation, Cp = specific heat of
The damper geometry (length, diameter and lubricant – 1.88 e3 J/kg K and
clearance), operating speed and fluid properties T = temperature rise of lubricant
(density and viscosity) determine, on first instance, The inlet oil temperature to the damper = 318 K
the forced performance of SFDs. However, there are Average temperature of the damper oil film = 345 K
other important considerations that ultimately
T = 345-318 = 27 K
determine the appropriate operation of dampers. The
Q = 4.13 e –6 m3/s
relevant important issues are calculated below.
=0.25 lt/min
Assuming that the damper is supported by properly
designed O-rings such that the static equilibrium
Temperature effects:
position is defined by =0.2. Oil supply pressure is
sufficiently high that no film rupture occurs. An ISO An average temperature of the oil in the damper film
VG 46 is the damping fluid. is calculated to be 72 deg. And the oil flow was
Input parameters: calculated to achieve this value. It is of interest to
Diameter of the bearing, D = 100mm determine the effect on the damper performance if
Length of the bearing, L = 30mm higher film temperatures were allowed.It can be seen
Damper clearance, C = 0.075mm from standard data that fluid inertia begins to play an
Angular speed,  = 1047 rad/s (10000 RPM) increasing role in damper performance as the
Kinematic viscosity,  = / = 0.01/831 temperature increases. Here temperature does not
1.21e-5 m2/s affect the damper performance.
Damping Coefficients: Damper
Squeeze film damper Fig.1 is used for increasing the
3 2
 L   (1  2 ) damping by squeezing the oil between two non-
Cxx = D   5
(1) rotating cylindrical surface i.e., one is damper shaft
C and
2(1   2 ) 2

= 1.2 e5

3
L 
Cyy = D   3
(2)
C 2
2(1   ) 2

Power Loss:

The Power (E) consumed in the damper can be

calculated from
Fig.1 Damper
1 1
E  (  2 x o2 C xx   2 y o2 C yy ) (3) the other is damper bearing O-rings are fitted in the
2 2 damper bearing grooves. It also has a circumferential
oil groove for circulating the oil throughout the
Where xo, Yo are the dynamic motions in the x, y
damper clearance.
directions as these motions are not usually known at
Length of the effective damper = 30mm
the beginning of a design, they can be estimated to
Diameter of the damper = 100mm
some fraction of the radial clearances ( C ) of the

Design, Development and Analysis of Squeeze Film Dampers For High Speed Machines

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International Journal of Mechanical And Production Engineering, ISSN: 2320-2092,
Two lobe bearing
Two-lobe bearing was manufactured by boring the
circular bearing profile with shims inserted at the
horizontal joint. The shims are then removed and the
bearing cap reassembled, yielding a reduced
clearance in the vertical axis comparing with
horizontal axis. Thereby a geometrical preload can be
given to the bearing depending upon its load and
speed. Two-lobe bearing can take low loads and high
speeds when comparing with circular bearing.
The following are the input parameters for the two-
lobe bearing used in the present paper.
Preload factor = 0.5
Length of the bearing = 25mm
Diameter of the bearing = 50mm
Horizontal radial clearance (CH) = 0.06 mm
Vertical radial clearance (CV) = 0.03 mm
III. EFFECT OF SFD ON ROTORDYNAMICS
Theoretical models
The bearing stiffness and damping coefficients are
represented are by K1, C1 respectively. These results
are conformed using the ARMD software. Squeeze
film dampers do not generate stiffness coefficients
i.e., reaction forces due to static journal
displacements since a damper is not able to develop
hydrodynamic pressures in the absence of journal
motion. The SFD damping coefficients are calculated
by using linearized force coefficients.
The combined stiffness and damping coefficients are
Ke and Ce and respectively. These are given by
Ke  K 1 (1  B)  C1 D 
K1 D
Ce  C1 (1  B )  (6)

where B and D are given by
K1 (K1  K2  m2 )   C1 C1  C2 
2 2
B
K  K
1 2  m2
2
2
  2 (C1  C2 )2
(7)
C1 (K1  K2  m2 2 )  K1 (C1  C2 )
D 
(K1  K2  m2 2 ) 2   2 (C1  C2 ) 2
(8)
in the above equation
K1 = stiffness coefficients of Two-lobe bearing
K2 = stiffness coefficients of O-ring
= Load/static eccentricity ratio
C1 = damping coefficients of two-lobe bearing
C2 = damping coefficients of SFD
m2 = mass of the SFD
The rotor dynamic analysis was carried out using the
ARMD Software by giving the above dynamic
coefficients for with and without SF. The rotor-
Design, Development and Analysis of Squeeze Film Dampers For High Speed Machines
Volume- 5, Issue-1, Jan.-2017
http://iraj.in
dynamic analysis was carried in the ARMD by
modeling the rotor with bearings. In the first case
rotor-dynamic effects are found for without SFD by
giving the bearing stiffness and damping coefficients
only, and in the second case i.e., for with SFD the
equivalent stiffness and damping coefficients are
taken for rotor-dynamic analysis. In both the cases
pedestal stiffness and damping coefficients are
neglected.
IV. EXPERIMENTAL SETUP
SFD test rig:
The principal components of the test rig are shown in
fig2. A 100 kW variable speed (maximum speed
1700 rpm) thyrister controlled D.C motor was used to
drive the test shaft through a step up gear box (1:6).
Flexible couplings have been provided between
motor/gear box and gear box/test shaft, which gives
high degree of flexibility for the test assembly. The
test shaft can be rotated to a maximum speed of
10,200 rpm. The speed of the test shaft can be
controlled and measured by thyrister controller. The
test shaft is mounted between two SFD supports. The
SFD is loaded by dead weight discs of three (two
weighing 37 Kgs, one 35 Kgs).
(5)
Fig.2 SFD Mounted on Bearing Pedestal
V. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
A lab model SFD for a simple rotor with three discs
(weighing 750 N) supported on oil bearings (Two-
lobe) is designed and developed. Oil film stiffness
and damping coefficients are evaluated theoretically
for two-lobe bearing and Squeeze film damper
separately and then equivalent (combined)
coefficients are computed for rotor-dynamic study.
Theoretical results obtained for lab model SFD are
Damping ratio, Logarithmic decrement,
Transmissibility. These results are given in tabular
form. The variation of Transmissibility with speed
ratio is given in graphical form.
1. Stiffness and damping coefficients of two-lobe
bearing
Input parameters
8
International Journal of Mechanical And Production Engineering, ISSN: 2320-2092, Volume- 5, Issue-1, Jan.-2017
http://iraj.in
Load = 730 N, N= 10,000 rpm, SFD clearance at the bottom when the bearing
D= 50 mm, L/D= 0.5, Pre load factor= 0.5, sits on the O-rings ( O-rings are loaded ) = 0.06 mm
cH = 0.06 mm, cV=0.03 mm Oil : ISO VG 46
Oil ISO VG 46, Oil inlet temperature = 45 deg
Oil inlet temperature=45 deg, Oil inlet pressure = 1.2 atm
Oil outlet temperature=72 deg.
Damping coefficients (N-s/m)
Stiffness coefficients (N/m)
Kxx = 0.10e8 Dxx = 1.20e5
Kxy = 0.38e8 Dxy = 0
Kyx =-0.47e8 Dyx = 0
Kyy = 0.94e8 Dyy = 1.06e5
Damping coefficients (N-s/m)
Dxx = 0.54e5 4. Equivalent stiffness and damping coefficients
Dxy =0.37e5 for journal bearing, SFD and O- ring
Dyx = 0.37e5
Dyy = 1.60e5 Equivalent Stiffness (N/m)
Kxx = 0.06e8
2. O-ring stiffness Kxy = -0.03e8
Load on each O-ring = 375 N, Kyx = -0.03e8
Damper radial clearance = 0.075 mm Kyy = 0.22e8
Static eccentricity of damper (e)= 0.015
Equivalent Damping (N-s/m)
Kxx = Kyy = 0.25e8 N/m
Dxx = 0.37e5
3. Damping coefficients of SFD Dxy = 0.0013e5
Dyx = 0.0008e5
Input parameters: Dyy = 0.65e5
D= 100 mm, L/D = 0.3, c= 0.075 mm
Load on the damper = 750 N 5. Damping and logarithmic decrement with and
Static eccentricity ratio = 0.2 without SFD

Table 1: Rotor-dynamic results

It can be observed from the tabulated and graphical Transmissibility Vs speed parameter at mode1
result at all critical speeds the damping rate and using Critical At mode 2 (Second speed 6590)
SFD in rotor bearing system that without SFD
increases logarithmic decrement values. Transmissibiity Vs Speed
Transmissibility was improved with SFD when 2
parameter
comparing with without SFD. y
itl1.5
i
Transmissibility Vs Speed ratio b
i 1 With SFD
s
is Without…
2 0.5
m
s
n
1.5 a 0
y R
itl T 0 1 2
i With SFD
ib 1 Speed parameter
s
is Fig.4 Transmissibility Vs speed parameter at mode 2
m
s0.5
n
ra VI. EXPERIMENTAL RESULTS
T 0
0 1 2
Speed ratio
Initial experiments were conducted on lab model
SFD up to a speed of 1800rpm. Bearing vibrations are
Fig.3 Transmissibility Vs Speed Ratio recorded at 1800rpm for drive/non- drive end

Design, Development and Analysis of Squeeze Film Dampers For High Speed Machines

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International Journal of Mechanical And Production Engineering, ISSN: 2320-2092, Volume- 5, Issue-1, Jan.-2017
http://iraj.in
bearings with and without oil in SFD clearance and The experiments were conducted on the developed
the results are tabulated. Due to some speed lab model SFD and the vibrations were measured
controller problem the drive motor could not run the with and without SFD supports. It was found that
test rig beyond 1800 rpm and hence the experimental vibration levels were reduced by using SFD supports
results could not be obtained at higher speeds. when compared with /without sfd supports. The
Bearing vibrations above results are graphically given.

Table 2. Bearing Vibration analysis

equivalent (combined) coefficients are computed for

DE BEARIN G W ITH SFD
rotor-dynamic study.
) 25 Rotor-dynamic analysis of SFD rotor with discs
K
P
( including SFD bearing supports was modeled in
N
I c 20 ARMD software package. It was found that the
e
E
D /s logarithmic decrement and damping ration were
U m15
T
I ,m improved with the usage of SFD and hence the rotor
L Y 10 with use of SFD is found to be more stable when
P T
I
M C compared to the rotor without SFD support. It was
A O
L 5 also found from the results that the transmitted forces
E
V to the supporting structure have been reduced with
0
HORIZONTAL VERTICAL AXIAL the usage of SFD.
PROBE LOCATION The experiments were conducted on the developed
lab model SFD and the vibrations were measured
Fig.5 Drive end bearing vibration levels with SFD and without with and without SFD supports. It was found that
SFD effects
vibration levels were reduced by using SFD supports
DE BEARIN G W ITH SFD when compared with without SFD supports.

15 REFERENCES
)
K
P
(
N c10 [1]. A.Z.Szeri, A.A.Raimondi, A.Giron Duarte, ‘Linear force
I e coefficients for SFDs’, Journal of Lub.Tech, Trans.of ASME,
E /s
D m 1983, Vol.15, pp: 326-334.
U
IT ,m 5 [2]. Luis A. San Andres and John M. Vance, “Effect of fluid
L Y inertia on Squeeze film damper forces for small amplitude
P IT
M C circular-centered Motions”, ASLE Transactions Volume 30,
A O No 1, pp: 63-68, 1987.
L0
E [3]. D.C.White, ‘The dynamics of rigid rotor supported on
V HORIZONTAL VERTICAL AXIAL Squeeze film bearings’, I.Mech.E.Conf. On Vibs in rotating
PROBE LOCATION system, 1972, pp: 213-229.
[4]. D.W.Parkins,’ Theoretical and experimental determination of
the dynamic characteristics of hydrodynamic journal
Fig.6 Non drive end bearing vibration levels with SFD and
bearing’, Journal of Lub.Tech, Transactions of ASME, Vol.
without SFD effect
101, 1979, pp: 129-139.
[5]. L.Della Pietra and G.Adiletta “ The Squeeze film damper
CONCLUSIONS over four decades of investigations. Part 1: Characteristic and
operating features” The shock and Vibrations Digest, Vol. 32,
A lab model SFD for a simple rotor with three discs No: 1, Jan.2002.
[6]. J.M. Vance, Alan.J.Kirton, ‘Experimental measurement of
supported on oil bearings (Two-lobe) is designed and the dynamic force response of a squeeze film bearing
developed. Oil film stiffness and damping damper’, Transactions of ASME, Nov 1975, pp:1282-1290.
coefficients are evaluated theoretically for two-lobe
bearing and squeeze film damper separately and then

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Design, Development and Analysis of Squeeze Film Dampers For High Speed Machines

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