CALCULATION OF ELASTIC DAMP- ING CHARACTERISTICS OF ROTOR SUPPORT MADE OF METAL RUBBER MATERIAL UNDER VARIABLE LOADS

A metal rubber（MR） dry friction damper was designed based on the load supported by the rotor. An experimental apparatus for obtaining hysteresis loops of support under the precession load was designed. The elastic-damping characteristics of the ring-shaped MR damper used as a rotor support under variable loads were presented by studying the hysteresis loops of the damper. The vibration rigidity and the energy dissipation coefficient were calculated from the hysteresis loops, based on the description of the deformation process of the MR element with simple structure in a dimensionless coordinating system. The calculation results showed that the energy dissipation coefficient in the inner of MR element and on the boundary between the damper and the frame of the rotor support were approximately equal. The comparison of the hysteresis loops for a precession load and a one-axial load indicated a large difference when the coefficient of the energy dissipation and the stiffness of the MR damper were concerned.