Unbalance Response of a Jeffcott Rotor Incorporating Short Squeeze Film Dampers

The steady-state unbalance response of a Jeffcott rotor incorporating short squeeze film dampers executing circular centered whirl is obtained by a fast algorithm. Savings in execution time of the order of fifty times are gained over numerical integration. Fluid inertia forces are included in the model of the squeeze film dampers. The fast algorithm allows parametric studies to be performed. It is shown that fluid inertia results in the excitation of a second mode for the Jeffcott rotor, decreases the possibility of jump resonance, and decreases the useful range of vibration isolation of the dampers. It is also shown that a squeeze film damper with no centering spring (or a very soft spring) may be advantageous with regards to the unbalance response and the vibration isolation capability of the dampers.