A bearing support system includes a bearing disposed within a bearing housing. A bearing damper is disposed around the bearing and includes one or more knitted mesh pads. A compression ring is positioned to be movable relative to the bearing housing and to apply a compression to the bearing damper that results in a change in at least one of a length and a wall thickness of each knitted wire mesh pad and a corresponding change in the stiffness and bearing of the damper. The system supports rotation of a shaft and may include one or more sensors to measure vibrations in the shaft and a controller to control movement of the compression ring in response to the mechanical vibrations.