〰️Vibrations of Mechanical Systems Unit 6 – Vibration Isolation & Absorption

Key Concepts and Terminology

• Vibration isolation reduces the transmission of unwanted vibrations from a source to a receiver by introducing a resilient element between them
• Transmissibility is the ratio of the vibration amplitude of the isolated system to the vibration amplitude of the source, a key measure of isolation effectiveness
• Resonance occurs when the frequency of the applied force matches the natural frequency of the system, leading to amplified vibrations
  • At resonance, the system's response is maximum and transmissibility is high
• Damping dissipates vibrational energy, reducing the amplitude of oscillations over time
  • Types of damping include viscous, Coulomb, and hysteretic damping
• Stiffness is the resistance of an elastic body to deformation, influencing the natural frequency of the system
• Degrees of freedom (DOF) refer to the number of independent parameters required to describe the motion of a system
  • Single DOF systems have one coordinate describing their motion, while multi-DOF systems have multiple coordinates

Fundamentals of Vibration Isolation

• The primary goal of vibration isolation is to reduce the dynamic forces transmitted from the source to the receiver
• Isolation is achieved by introducing a resilient element (isolator) with low stiffness between the source and the receiver
• The effectiveness of isolation depends on the ratio of the disturbing frequency to the natural frequency of the isolated system
  • Isolation is effective when the ratio is greater than $\sqrt{2}$
• The natural frequency of the isolated system ($\omega_n$) is given by $\omega_n = \sqrt{\frac{k}{m}}$, where $k$ is the stiffness of the isolator and $m$ is the mass of the isolated system
• Increasing the mass of the isolated system or decreasing the stiffness of the isolator lowers the natural frequency, improving isolation effectiveness
• Damping in the isolator helps to reduce the peak response at resonance but decreases isolation effectiveness at higher frequencies
• Isolation efficiency ($\eta$) is given by $\eta = 1 - \frac{1}{T}$, where $T$ is the transmissibility

Types of Vibration Isolators

• Elastomeric isolators are made of rubber or similar materials and provide isolation through their low stiffness and inherent damping
  • Examples include rubber mounts, pads, and bushings
• Spring isolators use coil springs, leaf springs, or air springs to provide isolation
  • Coil springs offer low stiffness and minimal damping, making them suitable for low-frequency isolation
  • Air springs use compressed air to provide variable stiffness and damping
• Pneumatic isolators use air pressure to support the load and provide isolation
  • They offer variable stiffness and damping through pressure regulation
• Hydraulic isolators use fluid pressure to support the load and provide isolation
  • They offer high load capacity and can incorporate damping through orifices or valves
• Active isolators use sensors, actuators, and control systems to counteract vibrations in real-time
  • They are effective for low-frequency vibrations and can adapt to changing conditions
• Hybrid isolators combine different types of isolators to achieve desired isolation characteristics
  • For example, a combination of springs and elastomeric elements

Vibration Absorption Techniques

• Vibration absorption involves adding a secondary mass-spring system (absorber) to the primary system to reduce vibrations
• The absorber is tuned to the frequency of the disturbing force, absorbing vibrational energy from the primary system
• Dynamic vibration absorbers (DVAs) consist of a mass and a spring, tuned to the frequency of the disturbing force
  • DVAs are effective at a specific frequency but can cause increased vibrations at other frequencies
• Tuned mass dampers (TMDs) are similar to DVAs but include damping to reduce the peak response and widen the effective frequency range
  • TMDs are commonly used in tall buildings and structures to reduce wind-induced vibrations
• Active vibration absorbers use sensors, actuators, and control systems to generate counteracting forces in real-time
  • They can adapt to changing frequencies and provide broader frequency coverage than passive absorbers
• Vibration neutralizers are a type of absorber that use a rotating eccentric mass to generate a counteracting force
  • They are commonly used in rotating machinery to reduce unbalanced forces
• The effectiveness of vibration absorption depends on the proper tuning of the absorber to the disturbing frequency and the mass ratio between the absorber and the primary system

Mathematical Models and Equations

• Single degree of freedom (SDOF) systems are modeled using the equation of motion: $m\ddot{x} + c\dot{x} + kx = F(t)$
  • $m$ is the mass, $c$ is the damping coefficient, $k$ is the stiffness, $F(t)$ is the external force, and $x$ is the displacement
• The natural frequency ($\omega_n$) of an undamped SDOF system is given by $\omega_n = \sqrt{\frac{k}{m}}$
• The damping ratio ($\zeta$) is given by $\zeta = \frac{c}{2\sqrt{km}}$, representing the level of damping in the system
• Transmissibility ($T$) is the ratio of the output amplitude ($X$) to the input amplitude ($Y$) and is given by $T = \frac{X}{Y} = \sqrt{\frac{1+(2\zeta r)^2}{(1-r^2)^2+(2\zeta r)^2}}$, where $r$ is the frequency ratio ($\frac{\omega}{\omega_n}$)
• For multi-degree of freedom (MDOF) systems, the equations of motion are represented in matrix form: $[M]{\ddot{x}} + [C]{\dot{x}} + [K]{x} = {F(t)}$
  • $[M]$, $[C]$, and $[K]$ are the mass, damping, and stiffness matrices, respectively
• Modal analysis is used to decouple the equations of motion for MDOF systems, transforming them into a set of independent SDOF equations
• The equations for vibration absorbers and tuned mass dampers involve additional terms representing the absorber mass, stiffness, and damping

Design Considerations for Isolation Systems

• The selection of isolators depends on factors such as the frequency range of interest, the weight of the isolated system, and the available space
• The isolator stiffness should be chosen to achieve a natural frequency well below the disturbing frequency for effective isolation
  • A rule of thumb is to have the natural frequency at least $\sqrt{2}$ times lower than the disturbing frequency
• The static deflection of the isolator under the weight of the isolated system should be considered to ensure adequate clearance and stability
• Damping in the isolator should be sufficient to reduce the peak response at resonance but not so high as to compromise high-frequency isolation
• The isolator should have adequate load capacity and fatigue life to withstand the static and dynamic loads over the intended service life
• The effect of the isolated system's motion on adjacent components or structures should be considered, especially for large displacements
• Environmental factors such as temperature, humidity, and chemical exposure should be considered when selecting isolator materials
• Maintenance and replacement requirements for the isolators should be factored into the design and accessibility of the isolation system

Applications in Mechanical Systems

• Engine mounts in vehicles isolate the engine vibrations from the chassis, improving ride comfort and reducing noise
• Suspension systems in vehicles isolate the passenger compartment from road irregularities and vibrations
• Vibration isolation tables or platforms are used in precision manufacturing, microscopy, and laboratory equipment to reduce the influence of ground vibrations
• HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning) systems use vibration isolators to prevent the transmission of compressor and fan vibrations to the building structure
• Machine tool spindles and cutting tool holders use vibration isolation to improve surface finish and tool life by reducing chatter vibrations
• Sensitive electronic equipment, such as high-precision scales and medical imaging devices, are mounted on vibration isolation systems to minimize the influence of external vibrations
• Seismic isolation systems use large-scale isolators to protect buildings and bridges from earthquake-induced vibrations
• Vibration isolation is used in the mounting of sensitive spacecraft components to protect them from launch vibrations and on-orbit disturbances

Performance Evaluation and Testing

• Transmissibility measurements are used to evaluate the effectiveness of vibration isolation systems
  • Accelerometers or other vibration sensors are placed on the source and the isolated system to measure the input and output vibrations
  • The ratio of the output to the input vibration amplitudes gives the transmissibility
• Resonance testing involves exciting the isolated system at various frequencies to identify resonances and evaluate the system's response
  • This helps to verify the natural frequencies and damping characteristics of the system
• Impulse or step response tests are used to characterize the transient response of the isolation system
  • A sudden impulse or step input is applied, and the system's response is measured to determine the settling time and overshoot
• Vibration transmissibility curves are plotted to visualize the isolation performance over a range of frequencies
  • The curves show the regions of amplification (transmissibility > 1) and isolation (transmissibility < 1)
• Experimental modal analysis is used to identify the mode shapes and natural frequencies of complex MDOF systems
  • Vibration sensors are placed at various locations on the structure, and the system is excited using shakers or impact hammers
• Accelerated life testing is performed to evaluate the durability and fatigue life of isolators under simulated operating conditions
  • Isolators are subjected to increased levels of stress or vibration to assess their performance and identify potential failure modes
• Standards such as ISO 10846 (Acoustics and vibration - Laboratory measurement of vibro-acoustic transfer properties of resilient elements) provide guidelines for testing and evaluating vibration isolation components and systems