Design of a piecewise linear vibration isolator for jump avoidance

Piecewise linear isolators are smart passive vibration isolators that provide effective isolation for high frequency/low amplitude excitation. This can be done by introducing a soft primary suspension and a relatively damped secondary suspension. Such a piecewise isolator prevents the system from a high relative displacement in low frequency/high amplitude excitation. By employed an averaging method it is possible to obtain an implicit function for frequency response of a symmetric bilinear vibration isolator system under steady-state harmonic excitation. This function is examined for jump avoidance. A condition is derived which when met ensures that the undesirable phenomenon of 'jump' does not occur and the system response is functional. The jump avoidance and sensitivity of the condition are examined and investigated as the dynamic parameters vary. The results of this investigation can be directly employed in design of effective piecewise linear vibration isolators. A linear vibration system is defined as one in which the quantities of mass (or inertia), stiffness, and damping are linear in behaviour and do not vary with time [1]. Although mathematical models employing a linear ordinary differential equation with constant coefficients portray a simple and manageable system for analytical study, in most cases they are an incomplete representation simplified for the sake of analysis. Most real physical vibration systems are more accurately depicted by non-linear governing equations, in which the non-linearity may stem from structural constraints causing a change in stiffness and damping characteristics, or from inherent non-linear behaviour of internal springs and dampers. This paper focuses on a general form of such a non-linear system. This study of piecewise-linear systems will allow hazardous system behaviour over operating frequency ranges to be gauged and controlled in order to avoid premature fatigue damage, and prolong the life of the system.