Arbitrary Motions in Long Cylindrical Squeeze Films: Numerical Model and Experimental Validation

Abstract

Dynamically loaded cylindrical squeeze films are analysed by a finite difference technique for predicting the transient fluid velocity and pressure fields, as well as the resulting squeeze force, given any specified motion of the internal cylinder. Apart from neglecting axial flow, no assumptions are made with respect to the relative magnitudes of the terms in the flow equations. Experimental results were obtained using a test apparatus in which quasi-elliptical orbits were generated using spinning eccentric masses. The squeeze force data show reasonable agreement with numerical results obtained for five orbit cases.