This research deals with damping of dynamic systems by means of thin fluid layers and jet flow impingement. Vibration in mechanical systems is an increasingly inhibiting factor in the quest for higher efficiency and productivity, factors which often translate as increased speed and light weight moving components. In earlier work, the principal investigator has demonstrated that damping obtained through the use of fluid layers is particularly effective at low frequencies. This project expands on that earlier work and attempts to enhance the damping effects achieved therein. Two topics are investigated here, comprising edge effects and free jet impingement effects. For the first topic, an effort will be made to make the edge effects (steady vortex and jetting) a dominant contributor to the damping. For the second topic, the plan is to study the damping resulting from the interaction of a vibrating surface with free jets impinging on it. The project contains an experimental component to verify the analytical aspects of the research.
