Dynamic Characterization of Rubber O-Rings: Squeeze and Size Effects

Abstract

This paper concerns the dynamic characterization of rubber O-rings used to introduce damping in high speed gas bearing systems. O-shaped rubber rings composed of high temperature rubber compounds are characterized in terms of stiffness and damping coefficients in the frequency range 100-800 Hz. Simple formulas with frequency independent coefficients were identified to express the viscoelastic properties of the O-rings. The formulas proposed approximate the stiffness and damping coefficients of O-rings of general size.