Squeeze Film Damper Modeling: A Comprehensive Approach

Squeeze film dampers (SFDs) are components used in many industrial applications, ranging from turbochargers to jet engines. SFDs are applied when the vibration levels or some instability threatens the safe operation of the machine. However, modeling these components is difficult and somewhat counterintuitive due to the multiple complex phenomena involved. After a thorough investigation of the state of the art, the most relevant phenomena for the characterization of the SFDs are highlighted. Among them, oil film cavitation, air ingestion, and inertia are investigated and modeled. The paper then introduces a numerical model based on the Reynolds equation, discretized with the finite difference method. Different boundary conditions for oil feeding and discharging are implemented and investigated. The model is validated by means of experimental results available in the literature, whereas different designs and configurations of the feeding and sealing system are considered. Eventually, an example of the application of a SFD to a compressor rotor for the reduction of vibration and correction of the instability is proposed. The paper provides an insight regarding the critical aspects of modeling SFDs, underscoring the limits of the numerical model, and suggesting where to further develop and improve the modeling.