Damper saturation effect on nutation

The nutation damping of a stack of axisymmetric bodies in relative angular motion around a common symmetry axis is analytically investigated. Nutation damping is analyzed for weak and strong saturation, and formulas are given for the nutation angle rate. Equations governing the mean moment of momentum vector component of the damper mass are also analyzed for weak and strong saturation by means of a fractional power series, and expressions are derived for nutation decay. It is found in the case of unsaturated dampers, that both axial and tangential saturated dampers cause an increase or decrease of the nutation angle, according to whether the proper angular rate of the body carrying the damper is positive or negative. It is also found that when the damper is strongly saturated, it behaves in a completely different manner than when unsaturated, implying the existence of a maximum value for nutation angle differentiation with respect to time.