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This paper describes the development of effective and reliable minimum-weight and minimum-envelope vibration dampers for cryogenic turbines. To meet this objective, a high speed test rig was designed and fabricated, which is currently used to test a curved beam type damper. The operation, capacity, structural characteristics, measurement system, and safety features of the cryogenic damper test rig are discussed.
The damper placement problem for large flexible space truss structures is formulated as a combinatorial optimization problem. The objective is to determine the p truss members of the structure to replace with active (or passive) dampers so that the modal damping ratio is as large as possible for all significant modes of vibration. Equivalently, given a strain energy matrix with rows indexed on the modes and the columns indexed on the truss members, we seek to find the set of p columns such that the smallest row sum, over the p columns, is maximized. We develop a tabu search heuristic for the damper placement problems on the Controls Structures Interaction (CSI) Phase 1 Evolutionary Model (10 modes and 1507 truss members). The resulting solutions are shown to be of high quality.
Active dampers developed to suppress vibrations in rotating machinery. Essentially feedback control systems and reciprocating piezoelectric actuators. Similar active damper containing different actuators described in LEW-14488. Concept also applicable to suppression of vibrations in stationary structures subject to winds and earthquakes. Active damper offers adjustable suppression of vibrations. Small and lightweight and responds faster to transients.
Turbomachinery blades are subject to aerodynamic forces that can lead to high-cycle-fatigue (HCF) failures. These failures will only increase as engineers begin to design blades without shrouds or as integrally bladed disks (blisks). These new designs will decrease blade damping significantly because the mechanical damping from shroud and blade joints will be eliminated. Also, it is difficult to design dampers for the engine environment with its extremely high centrifugal loads and high temperatures. The self-tuning impact damper has been designed to provide the additional damping required to avoid HCF while withstanding the harsh engine environment. In addition, the damper is placed within the engine blade itself rather than external to it.
A single-point-attachment wind-damper device is proposed to reduce on-pad motion of a cylindrical launch vehicle. The device is uniquely designed to attach at only one location along the vehicle and capable of damping out wind gusts from any lateral direction. The only source of damping is from two viscous dampers in the device. The effectiveness of the damper design in reducing vehicle displacements is determined from transient analysis results using an Ares I-X launch vehicle. Combinations of different spring stiffnesses and damping are used to show how the vehicle's displacement response is significantly reduced during a wind gust.
Magnetic, passive damper composed of eddy-current and hysteresis dampers for gravity-gradient stabilized spacecraft
Theoretical and practical problems involved in the application of electromechanical damping for spacecraft docking-mechanism attenuation are discussed. Some drawbacks of hydraulic dampers used for the purpose are pointed out. The basic scheme of the attenuator with the electromechanical damper is given.
Nutation dampers are examined from the standpoint of application to manned space stations with artificial gravity. Typical spacecraft concepts and associated control requirements are considered, and examples of the dampers proposed for these spacecraft are discussed.
The design, fabrication, and adaptation of a model damper system to the 5.5% aeroelastic model of the Saturn 1B/Skylab launch vehicle are reported. The damper is dynamically calibrated over the desired range of additive damping for model conditions prior to wind tunnel testing.
Two efficient types of fluid nutation dampers that are simple, reliable, and inexpensive have been developed. In use, either damper may be mounted on a spinning body, parallel to the spin axis of the body and radially displaced from it, to eliminate nutation.
The rotational stability of a dual-spin satellite consisting of a main body and a symmetric rotor, both spinning about a common axis, is investigated. The main body is equipped with a spring-mass damper, while a partially filled viscous ring damper is mounted on the rapidly spinning rotor. The effect of fluid motion on the rotational stability of the satellite is calculated, considering the fluid as a single particle moving in a tube with viscous damping. Time constants are obtained by solving approximate equations of motion for the nutation-synchronous and the spin-synchronous modes, and the results are found to agree well with the numerical integrations of the exact equations. A limit cycle may exist for some configurations; the nutation angle tends to increase in such cases.
A single-mass flexible-rotor analysis was used to optimize the stiffness and damping of a flexible support for a symmetric five-mass rotor. The flexible, damped support attenuates the amplitudes of motions and forces transmitted to the support bearings when the rotor operates through and above its first bending critical speed. An oil squeeze film damper was designed based on short bearing lubrication theory. The damper design was verified by an unbalance response computer program. Rotor amplitudes were reduced by a factor of 16 and loads reduced by a factor of 36 compared with the same rotor with rigid bearing supports.
Values of damping and stiffness were determined experimentally for an externally pressurized, inherently compensated, compressible squeeze-film damper up to excitation frequencies of 36,000 cycles per minute. Experimental damping values were higher than theory predicted at low squeeze numbers and less than predicted at high squeeze numbers. Experimental values of air film stiffness were less than theory predicted at low squeeze numbers and much greater at higher squeeze numbers. Results also indicate sufficient damping to attenuate amplitudes and forces at the critical speed when using three dampers in the flexible support system of a small, lightweight turborotor.
A single mass flexible rotor analysis was used to optimize the stiffness and damping of a flexible support for a symmetric five-mass rotor. The flexible support attenuates the rotor motions and forces transmitted to the support bearings when the rotor operates through and above its first bending critical speed. An oil squeeze-film damper was designed based on short bearing lubrication theory. The damper design was verified by an unbalance response computer program. Rotor amplitudes were reduced by a factor of 16 and loads reduced by a factor of 36 compared with the same rotor on rigid bearing supports.
A series of simulated blade loss tests are reported on a test rotor designed to operate above its second bending critical speed. A series of analyses were performed which predicted the transient behavior of the test rig for each of the blade loss tests. The scope of the program included the investigation of transient rotor dynamics of a flexible rotor system, similar to modern flexible jet engine rotors, both with and without squeeze film dampers. The results substantiate the effectiveness of squeeze film dampers and document the ability of available analytical methods to predict their effectiveness and behavior.
An active nutation damping device, consisting of an angular accelerometer, a dc-motor-driven flywheel, and associated electronics, was developed for spacecraft use. This damping system was used on the LAGEOS spacecraft, launched May 4, 1976, to control nutation buildup during the long coast period (approximately 75 minutes) after the third stage separation. Of the many electrical and mechanical design choices involved, the use of an angular rather than linear accelerometer offers some advantages. There are some problems of adapting the angular accelerometer to spacecraft use. The damper package was evaluated and proven on a three-axis gas-bearing simulator that duplicated the LAGEOS spacecraft critical flight dynamics. A failure analysis of the damper assembly was performed.
A device for damping radial motion of a rotating shaft is described. The damper comprises a series of spaced plates extending in a radial direction. A hydraulic piston is utilized to place a load in these plates. Each annular plate is provided with a suitable hydrostatic bearing geometry on at least one of its faces. This structure provides a high degree of dampening in a rotor case system of turbomachinery in general. The damper is particularly useful in gas turbine engines.
Squeeze film dampers are a means of curing instabilities in rotating shaft assemblies. Their efficiency depends very much on the condition of the oil, which in turn depends on inlet and outlet arrangements, on damper geometry and on the flexibility of the rotor and surrounding structure. Rig investigations in which structural flexibility is included experimentally are discussed. Comparisons are made between measured and predicted results.