In this paper, dynamic analyses of the swash plate vibration and pressure pulsation of an aircraft piston pump based on fluid-structure interactions (FSIs) are presented. Models of the swash plate piston pumps with three FSIs (named full FSIs and non FSI) are given. The simulation results of the discharge pressures at different rotation speeds in the synthesized pump model and experiments show good agreement. The numerical simulation results of the forces on the swash plate and the flow rate of the outlet chamber are presented and compared. The results of the two models show that the discharge pressure pulsation mostly depends on the kinematic relations of the piston slipper-shoe units (FSI-1), and is almost isolated from the swash plate vibration. The full FSIs simulation shows that the swash plate vibration is strongly influenced by the pressure pulsation through the control actuator mechanism (FSI-2) and the control valve mechanism (FSI-3), but the non FSI model does not show the same result. The full FSIs model is much more accurate in predicting the vibration of the swash plate and the pulsation of the discharge pressure than the non FSI model.

High-speed, pressure-compensated variable displacement piston pumps are widely used in aircraft hydraulic systems for their high power density. The swash plate is controlled by the pressure-compensated valve, which uses pressure feedback so that the instantaneous output flow of the pump is exactly enough to maintain a presetting pressure. The oscillation of the swash plate is one of the major excitation sources in the high-speed piston pump, which may cause lower efficiency, shorter service life, and even serious damage. This paper presents an improved model to investigate the influence of the variable displacement mechanism on the swash plate oscillation and introduces some feasible ways to reduce oscillation of the swash plate. Most of the variable structural parameters of the variable displacement mechanism are taken into consideration, and their influences on swash plate oscillation are discussed in detail. The influence of the load pipe on the oscillation of the swash plate is considered in the improved model. A test rig is built and similarities between the experiments and simulated results prove that the simulation model can effectively predict the variable displacement mechanism state. The simulation results show that increasing the volume of the outlet chamber, the spring stiffness of the control valve, the action area of the actuator piston, and offset distance of the actuator piston can significantly reduce the oscillation amplitude of the swash plate. Furthermore, reducing the diameter of the control valve spool and the dead volume of the actuator piston chamber can also have a positive effect on oscillation amplitude reduction.