What is the primary purpose of a diesel engine's viscous damper?

The primary purpose of a diesel engine's viscous damper, also known as a torsional vibration damper, is to control and minimize torsional vibrations in the crankshaft. Torsional vibrations are twisting oscillations that occur along the length of the crankshaft due to the cyclical nature of combustion and the inertia of the rotating components. Each time a cylinder fires, it applies a torque pu....