Model validation and experimentally driven hydraulic damper model refinement

The paper presents study of the issues related to modelling of hydraulic damper with mechanical relief valves. This structural component plays essential role in helicopter applications where it provides damping augmentation against vibration instabilities. Previous research has established baseline damper model, which is based on the concepts from hydraulic system theory. The parametric dynamic model of a damper is used along with set of validation experiments to analyse the quality of a baseline model and its potential for improvement. Concurrent use of damper response data taken from a mathematical model and an experiment enables closer inspection of the physical mechanisms previously not included in a given reference model, as well as detailed analysis related to uncertain aspects of the model. A set of experiments is performed on the two nominally identical dampers and the data originating from these experiments are compared with corresponding responses of the mathematical model of the damper.