Flow visualization and forces from a squeeze film damper operating with natural air entrainment

Measurements of dynamic film pressures and high-speed photographs of the flow field in an open-ended Squeeze Film Damper (SFD) operating with natural free air entrainment are presented for increasing whirl frequencies (8.33-50 Hz), and a range of feed pressures to 250 kPa (37 psig). The flow conditions range from lubricant starvation (air ingestion) to a fully flooded discharge operation. The test dynamic pressures and video recordings show that air entrainment leads to large and irregular gas fingering and striation patterns. This is a natural phenomenon in SFDs operating with low levels of external pressurization (reduced lubricant through flow rates). Air ingestion and entrapment becomes more prevalent as the whirl frequency raises, and increasing the feed pressure aids little to ameliorate the loss in dynamic forced performance. As a result of the severity of air entrainment, experimentally estimated damping forces decrease steadily as the whirl frequency (operating speed) increases.