Studies of the performance of particle dampers under dynamic loads

This paper presents a systematic investigation of the performance of particle dampers (vertical and horizontal) attached to a primary system (single-degree-of-freedom (SDOF) and multi-degree-of-freedom (MDOF)) under different dynamic loads (free vibration, stationary random excitation as well as nonstationary random excitation, with single component or multi-component), and the optimum operating regions are all determined. The amount of dissipated energy due to impact and friction, and the concept of “Effective Momentum Exchange” are shown to be suitable “global” measures to interpret the physics involved in the behavior of particle dampers. Using the well-established discrete element method, the motion of vertical particle dampers can be analyzed and classified into three different regions, and the associated damping characteristics can be interpreted. The first mode of a MDOF primary system can be effectively controlled by a properly designed particle damper; however, the higher modes are more affected by other parameters. Consequently, extensive parametric studies are presented to evaluate the effects of various system parameters, such as: mass ratio, primary system damping, coefficient of restitution, container dimensions, excitation amplitude and components, input locations and damper locations.     

Calculation of multi-layer plate damper under one-axial load

A multi-layer damper with waved plates under one-axial load is considered. A method of theoretical calculation of its energy dissipation coefficient is proposed. An experimental research of own frequencies and vibration transfer ratios for different parameters of damper structure, harmonic vibration load and random load is performed. Results of this research are approximated by functions; it is possible to use these functions for the calculation of the damper too.     

Damping performance of two simple oscillators coupled by a visco-elastic connection

A simple dynamic system composed of two linear oscillators is employed to analyze the passive control performance that can be achieved through a visco-elastic damper connecting two adjacent free-standing structures. By extension, the model may also describe the energy dissipation which can be obtained by an internal coupling between two quasi-independent sub-systems composing a single complex structure. Two alternatives are evaluated for the linear coupling by considering either the serial or the parallel spring–dashpot arrangement known as the Kelvin–Voigt and the Maxwell damper model, which may synthetically reproduce the constitutive behavior of different industrial devices. The complex eigenvalues of the coupled system are parametrically analyzed to determine the potential benefits realized by different combinations of the coupling stiffness and damping coefficient. A design strategy to assess these parameters is outlined, driven by the relevant observation that a perfect tuning of the natural frequencies always corresponds, in the parameter space, to the maximum modal damping for one of the resonant modes, independent of the damper model. The effectiveness of the proposed strategy is discussed for different classes of the controlled system, depending on the mass and stiffness ratio of the component oscillators. As a major result, different design parameter charts for the two damper models are carried out and compared to each other. Performance indexes are introduced to quantitatively evaluate the passive control performance with respect to the mitigation of the system forced response under harmonic and seismic ground excitation. The analyses confirm the validity of the design strategy for a well-balanced mitigation of the displacement and acceleration response in both the oscillators.     

Behavior of nonlinear fluid viscous dampers for control of shock vibrations

Fluid viscous dampers have been widely used for suppression of high velocity shocks. While linear fluid viscous dampers have been used for a long time, nonlinear fluid viscous dampers show considerable promise due to their superior energy dissipation characteristics and significant reduction in the damper force compared to a linear fluid viscous damper for the same peak displacement. This paper presents results from experimental study to characterize fluid viscous dampers when subjected to half-cycle sine shock excitation. The mathematical formulation and a numerical study to evaluate the relative performance of structures with fluid viscous dampers subjected to short-duration shock (impulse) loading are also discussed. The influence of damper nonlinearity (α) and the supplemental damping ratio (ξ_sd) on response has been investigated. The supplemental damping ratio of nonlinear fluid viscous dampers when subjected to shock excitation is found by equivalent linearization using the concept of equal energy dissipation. The paper also presents some design charts, which can be used for preliminary decisions on parameters of nonlinear dampers to be used in design.     

Receptances of non-proportionally and continuously damped plates—Reduced dampers method

This paper presents a method for the dynamic analysis of continuously and non-proportionally damped plates in bending modes. The damping can be in the form of constrained or unconstrained layers. The method is an extension of the equivalent dampers method discussed in a previous paper, in which the damping matrix of a discretized plate is replaced by a diagonal equivalent damping matrix. Each diagonal element represents an equivalent damper inserted between the structure and ground. In this method the number of equivalent dampers is reduced so that the receptance matrix of the damped structure can be obtained economically by a direct matrix method. The receptances of two different partially coated plates in transverse directions are computed by the method suggested. The verification of the results is demonstrated by comparison with the experimental values and also with the theoretical values obtained by the equivalent dampers method. The method presented can also be applied to the transverse vibration analysis of plates with discrete damping inserts.     

Dynamics of vibrating systems with tuned liquid column dampers and limited power supply

Tuned liquid column dampers are U-tubes filled with some liquid, acting as an active vibration damper in structures of engineering interest like buildings and bridges. We study the effect of a tuned liquid column damper in a vibrating system consisting of a cart which vibrates under driving by a source with limited power supply (non-ideal excitation). The effect of a liquid damper is studied in some dynamical regimes characterized by coexistence of both periodic and chaotic motion.     

Novel schemes for inserting seismic dampers in shear-type systems based upon the mass proportional component of the Rayleigh damping matrix

This paper presents the results of an extensive study carried out to investigate the applicability of a novel scheme for inserting added viscous dampers in shear-type systems. The findings, even though developed with specific reference to civil building structures, provide useful insight also for the effective addition of viscous dampers in mechanical dynamic systems (of similar characteristics) when excited at the base.The novel scheme proposed (referred to as the MPD system) is based upon the mass proportional component of the Rayleigh damping matrix (MPD matrix) and is characterised by a peculiar damper placement which sees the dampers placed so that they connect each mass to a fixed point.Firstly, the paper briefly recalls (a) the physical principles and (b) selected results of numerical investigations which show that the MPD system is characterised by superior dissipative properties.Secondly, the paper investigates the implementation of the MPD system in civil building structures. Two solutions are envisaged herein: direct implementation (through the use of long buckling-resistant dampers which connect each storey to the ground) and indirect implementation (by placing common dampers between the structure and a very stiff lateral-resisting element adjacent or internal to the structure). The first solution leads to the implementation in the structure of an exact MPD matrix, if damper sizing is chosen appropriately. The second solution (simpler than the first one to implement in building structures) leads to an exact MPD matrix, if, in addition to appropriate damper sizing, the lateral-resisting element is infinitely stiff. As far as the direct implementation is concerned, this paper shows how long buckling-resistant braces are available for structural systems up to three storey high. As far as the indirect implementation is concerned, this paper shows (through extensive numerical parametric investigations) how this solution is capable of providing damping effects which are similar to those offered by the direct implementation, even for lateral-resisting elements characterised by finite lateral stiffness. The results obtained also provide insight for the optimal insertion of viscous dampers in coupled mechanical dynamic systems.     

机载多框架光电吊舱两级隔振设计

在分析了目前常用的机载光电设备隔振系统的基础上,针对两轴四框架的结构特点,提出了一种基于多框架的两级隔振方案,克服了目前隔振系统体积、重量大,加工装配要求高的缺点。基于隔振模型的理论计算表明,根据系统给定的质量比和频率比,优化选择内外框架的刚度比,即选择合适的内外框隔振器可达到理想的隔振效果。通过某型光电吊舱的扫频实验...     

An investigation into the simultaneous use of a resonator as an energy harvester and a vibration absorber

A mass–spring–damper system is at the core of both a vibration absorber and a harvester of energy from ambient vibrations. If such a device is attached to a structure that has a high impedance, then it will have very little effect on the vibrations of the structure, but it can be used to convert mechanical vibrations into electrical energy (act as an energy harvester). However, if the same device is attached to a structure that has a relatively low impedance, then the device may attenuate the vibrations as it may act as both a vibration absorber and an energy harvester simultaneously. In this paper such a device is discussed. Two situations are considered; the first is when the structure is excited with broadband random excitation and the second is when the structure is excited by a single frequency. The optimum parameters of the device for both energy harvesting and vibration attenuation are discussed for these two cases. For random excitation it is found that if the device is optimized for vibration suppression, then this is also adequate for maximizing the energy absorbed (harvested), and thus a single device can effectively suppress vibration and harvest energy at the same time. For single frequency excitation this is found not to be the case. To maximize the energy harvested, the natural frequency of the system (host structure and absorber) has to coincide with the forcing frequency, but to minimize vibration of the host structure, the natural frequency of the absorber has to coincide with the forcing frequency. In this case, therefore, a single resonator cannot effectively suppress vibration and harvest energy at the same time.     

The optimization of mechanical dampers to control self-excited galloping oscillations

The use of mechanical dampers for the control of the self-excited galloping of transmission lines is considered. Two particular dampers, an in-span damper and a resilient mounting, are studied, two mass representations being used. For both dampers it is possible to produce an optimum damper either by maximizing the negative damping excitation that the damped system can withstand, or by choosing the smaller logarithmic decrement of oscillation of the system to be as large as possible in the absence of excitation. These two procedures do not produce the same damper parameters. Simple analytical expressions are produced for the optimum parameters, and these are shown to agree well with numerically optimized parameters. For the in-span damper, either method of optimization gives a damper for a much wider range of ratios of the damper to conductor masses than is predicted by earlier work. For the resilient mounting the optimization based on damping gives very similar behaviour to that of the in-span damper. When aerodynamic excitation is considered for the resilient mounting, a clear optimum exists only for a small range of mass ratios. Results from a representation of the conductor by a stretched string are used to define the range of mass ratios over which the two-mass damper idealizations may be used to define damper properties.     

Analytical and experimental validation of a nondimensional Bingham model for mixed-mode magnetorheological dampers

In this paper an experimental validation of a nondimensional analysis for a mixed-mode magnetorheological (MR) damper is described. Based on the Bingham constitutive equation of an MR fluid, a nondimensional model describing damping capacity of the MR damper is formulated using nondimensional parameters including the Bingham number, nondimensional plug thickness, hydraulic amplification ratio, and equivalent viscous damping coefficient. The effects of the Bingham number and the hydraulic amplification ratio on the nondimensional plug thickness and equivalent viscous damping coefficient are analyzed. A mixed-mode MR damper is designed and fabricated to validate the relationships between nondimensional parameters. The damper is tested under various loading conditions and current (applied magnetic field intensity) levels. The nondimensional parameters and variables are measured experimentally, and the effectiveness of the nondimensional analysis model for mixed-mode MR dampers is demonstrated. In addition, comparisons between mixed and flow mode dampers are undertaken using this nondimensional analysis.     

Analysis of Coulomb friction vibration dampers

An analysis of the steady state response of a rotational Coulomb friction vibration damper has been carried out. Such dampers are sometimes used in various industrial applications. Analysis of the steady state phase plane is used to determine various response quantities such as amplitude ratio, phase lag, energy dissipated per cycle, and rms power loss. The analysis shows that the response can be categorized into one of three main types. Expressions are developed to predict effect of the addition of a damper on the power and the disturbance amplitude transmitted to the load. It is shown that simple one parameter relationships exist for predicting the maximum vibration reduction achievable with this type of damper.     

An inverse model of MR damper using optimal neural network and system identification

Magnetorheological (MR) damper is one of the more promising new devices for vibration control of structures. External energy required by the adjustable fluid damper is minuscule while speed of its response is in the order of milliseconds. The MR damper is a semi-active control device and has been characterized by a set of non-linear differential equations which represent a forward model of the MR damper, i.e., the model can generate a force to a given displacement and applied voltage.This paper presents an inverse model of the MR damper, i.e., the model can predict the required voltage so that the MR damper can produce the desired force for the requirement of vibration control of structures. The inverse model has been constructed by using a multi-layer perceptron optimal neural network and system identification, which are Gauss-Newton-based Levenberg-Marquardt training algorithm, optimal brain surgeon strategy and autoregressive with exogenous variables (ARX) model. Based on the data from numerical simulation of the MR damper, the trained optimal neural networks can accurately predict voltage. If the inverse model is used in a control system, the semi-active vibration control can be implemented easily by using the semi-active MR damper.     

Active control of high-frequency vibration: Optimisation using the hybrid modelling method

This work presents active control of high-frequency vibration using skyhook dampers. The choice of the damper gain and its optimal location is crucial for the effective implementation of active vibration control. In vibration control, certain sensor/actuator locations are preferable for reducing structural vibration while using minimum control effort. In order to perform optimisation on a general built-up structure to control vibration, it is necessary to have a good modelling technique to predict the performance of the controller. The present work exploits the hybrid modelling approach, which combines the finite element method (FEM) and statistical energy analysis (SEA) to provide efficient response predictions at medium to high frequencies. The hybrid method is implemented here for a general network of plates, coupled via springs, to allow study of a variety of generic control design problems. By combining the hybrid method with numerical optimisation using a genetic algorithm, optimal skyhook damper gains and locations are obtained. The optimal controller gain and location found from the hybrid method are compared with results from a deterministic modelling method. Good agreement between the results is observed, whereas results from the hybrid method are found in a significantly reduced amount of time.     

An algorithm for the optimal design of passive vibration controllers for flexible systems

A gradient algorithm is developed for the optimal design of discrete passive dampers in the vibration control of a class of flexible (distributed parameter) systems. A complete mathematical development is presented for slender beams in flexural vibration. The algorithm systematically seeks to make the modal damping and natural frequencies of the system reach a set of preassigned values. Single damper and the two damper control examples indicate that the proposed algorithm converges faster than the Davison method used in reference [1] for those cases.     

A comparison of two nonlinear damping mechanisms in a vibration isolator

The vibration transmissibility characteristics of a single-degree-of-freedom (SDOF) passive vibration isolation system with different nonlinear dampers are investigated in this paper. In one configuration, the damper is assumed to be linear and viscous, and is connected to the mass so that it is perpendicular to the spring (horizontal damper). The vibration is in the direction of the spring. The second configuration is one in which the damper is in parallel with the spring but the damping force is proportional to the cube of the relative velocity across the damper (cubic damping). Both configurations are studied for small amplitudes of excitation, when some analysis can be conducted based on analytical expressions, and for large amplitudes of excitation, where the analysis is based on numerical simulations. It is found that the two nonlinear systems can outperform the linear system when force transmissibility is considered. However, for displacement transmissibility, the system with the horizontal damper exhibits some desirable properties, but the system with cubic damping does not.     

Hysteretic tuned mass dampers for structural vibration mitigation

The hysteresis exhibited by short steel wire ropes is shown to lend itself as an effective restoring force for nonlinear monodirectional tuned mass dampers. Experiment-driven modeling based on the identified hysteretic restoring forces together with continuation tools enables an optimal design of these dampers through construction of families of frequency–response curves over a wide range of excitation amplitudes. Semi-analytical/numerical and experimental studies are carried out considering a base-excited test structure represented by a simply supported beam together with a prototype of the hysteretic damper subject to either harmonic or filtered Gaussian white noise excitations.     

Semi-active friction tendons for vibration control of space structures

Semi-active vibration control systems are becoming popular because they offer both the reliability of passive systems and the versatility of active control without high power demands. In this work, a new semi-active control system is proposed and studied numerically. The system consists of variable-friction dampers linked to the structure through cables. Auxiliary soft springs in parallel with these friction dampers allow them to return to their initial pre-tensioned state. Using cables makes the system suitable for deployable, flexible and lightweight structures, such as space structures (spacecraft). A control system with three control laws applied to a single-degree-of-freedom structure is studied. Two of these laws are derived by using Lyapunov theory, whereas the third one is developed heuristically. In order to assess the performance of the control system, a parametric study is carried out through numerical simulations. An application of the proposed method to multi-degree-of-freedom structures is also presented and demonstrated through a numerical example. The system in semi-active mode is more effective than in passive mode and its effectiveness is less sensitive to loss of pre-tension.     

Energy dissipation of a friction damper

In this paper the energy dissipated through friction is analysed for a type of friction dampers used to reduce squeal noise from railway wheels. A one degree-of-freedom system is analytically studied. First the existence and stability of a periodic solution are demonstrated and then the energy dissipated per cycle is determined as a function of the system parameters. In this way the influence of the mass, natural frequency and internal damping of the friction damper on the energy dissipation is established. It is shown that increasing the mass and reducing the natural frequency and internal damping of the friction damper maximizes the dissipated energy.     

Autoparametric vibration absorber effect to reduce the first symmetric mode vibration of a curved beam/panel

This paper presents the implementation of autoparametric phenomena to reduce the symmetrical vibration of a curved beam/panel under external harmonic excitation. The internal energy transfer of a first symmetric mode into first anti-symmetric mode in a curved panel is one example of autoparametric vibration absorber effect. This is similar to the vibration energy transfer from the resonance of a primary structure to the resonance of a secondary spring–mass (tuned mass damper). The nonlinear response of a curved beam is analyzed using an equation with two modes, and a shaker test. The effect of different configurations of the curve beam/panel, including damping ratios and excitation levels, on the energy transfer of the first symmetric mode to the first anti-symmetric mode was studied.The conventional tuned mass damper (TMD) can reduce the resonance response by energy transfer using damping dissipation, whereas an autoparametric vibration absorber (AVA) can reduce the resonance response by energy transfer using parametric interaction. The results indicate that there is a non-absorption region in which vibration is amplified. For the AVA, the non-absorption region can be minimized by tuning the resonance frequency of the first anti-symmetric mode to half of the first symmetric mode resonance frequency using additional mass. No additional damping material is required for achieving sufficient vibration reduction. The AVA can maintain reliable performance in hot and corrosive environments where damping material cannot perform effectively. This paper presents the first successful experimental results of an autoparametric vibration absorption mechanism in a curved beam.