Cavitation Regimes in Squeeze Film Dampers and Their Effect on the Pressure Distribution

Abstract

High speed motion pictures have revealed several operating regimes in a squeeze film, damper. Pressure measurements corresponding to these distinct regimes were made to examine their effect on the performance of such dampers. Visual observation also revealed the means by which the pressure in the feed groove showed higher amplitudes than the theory predicts. Comparison between vapor and gaseous cavitation are made based on their characteristic pressure wave, and the effect this has on the resultant force in the squeeze film.