LAUSR

Purpose The purpose of this study is to examine the dynamic performance of an orifice-compensated three-pad hydrostatic squeeze film damper. Design/methodology/approach A numerical model has been developed and presented to study the effect of eccentricity ratio and pressure ratio on the static and dynamic characteristics of an orifice-compensated three-pad hydrostatic squeeze film damper. It is assumed that the fluid flow is incompressible, laminar, isothermal and steady-state. The finite difference method has been used to solve Reynolds equation governing the lubricant flow in film thickness of hydrostatic bearing. The numerical results obtained are discussed, analyzed and compared between three- and four-lobe hydrostatic journal bearings available in the literature. Findings It was found that the influence of eccentricity ratio on dynamic characteristics of an orifice-compensated three-pad hydrostatic squeeze film damper appears to be essentially controlled by the concentric pressure ratio. It was also found that the three-pad hydrostatic squeeze film damper has higher stiffness than three and four-lobe hydrostatic journal bearings. Originality/value In fact, the results obtained show that this type of hydrostatic squeeze film damper provides hydrostatic designers a new bearing configuration suitable to control rotor vibrations.