Experimental study of the radial and tangential forces in a whirling squeeze film damper

The present work introduces the main results of a detailed experimental program aimed at investigating the influence of the design parameters and of the working conditions oil the global characteristics of squeeze film dampers (SFD) for serial aircraft engines. The SFD is sealed at both end.,; and is executing circular centered orbits. The results are presented for the tangential and the radial global force in the SFD and the leakage flow rate. The pressure field inside the SFD could also be measured and shows the influence of the inertia force, of the cavitation, and probably of the turbulence regime, as well as the interaction of these effects with the feeding groove. The limits of the existing theoretical models are also demonstrated.