Active system for bearing oil damper supply and vibration control

A gas turbine engine comprising:

• a stationary section;
• a rotating section joined to a shaft;
• a bearing housing having a radially outer surface and a radially inner surface and attached to the stationary section of the gas turbine engine;
• a stationary bearing race having a radially outer surface and a radially inner surface and spaced radially inward from the bearing housing;
• a rotating bearing race having a radially outer surface and a radially inner surface and spaced radially inward from the stationary bearing race and attached to the shaft;
• a bearing element disposed between the radially inner surface of the stationary bearing race and the radially outer surface of the rotating bearing race;
• a fluid compartment defined by the space between the radially inner surface of the bearing housing and the radially outer surface of the stationary race;
• a pump configured to pump a fluid into the fluid compartment;
• and
• a variable position valve having a plurality of open positions configured to generate a plurality of fluid flows into the fluid compartment.

A method of adjusting a stiffness of a fluid damped bearing, the method comprising:

• pumping a fluid through a variable position valve having a plurality of open positions;
• sensing a parameter relating to a vibration rate of a rotating component;
• actuating a variable positon valve in response to the sensed parameter to control a flow of a fluid;
• and
• routing the fluid from the variable position valve to a fluid compartment formed between a bearing housing and a stationary race of the fluid damped bearing.