It is a well-known fact not only in the working environment of mechanical engineers that piston engines shake, among which some of them more than others. Therefore, such type of vibrations, created by piston engines, should be controlled somehow. For the reduction of torsional crankshaft vibrations, torsional dampers are often used.

The crankshaft vibrations are intrinsic in any internal combustion engine because of the powerful though unequal forces, which act directly on its crankshaft. Although the dampers will not add engine horsepower, no use of them causes that crankshaft vibrations will hamper the horsepower potential of engines.

In recent times magnetorheological dampers have been used more and more often. It is worth noting, however, that the design simplicity of this type of dampers is usually ransomed by the need to use advanced technologies both in the design of elements of the control system as well as composing fluids that fill them.

The principal purpose of this research is, first, a construction and, then, carrying of a preliminary analysis of virtual models of vibrations of crankshaft-propeller systems, which are needed for the control design and simulation as well as selection of the torsional dampers. Through the use of the torsional dampers, the fatigue life of the crankshafts will increase.

Based on these studies, particular control strategies will be proposed to minimize the amplitudes of torsional vibrations.