Dynamics of structures coupled to particle-chain impact dampers: A parametric numerical analysis

Abstract

Particle impact dampers are dissipative devices that can easily be coupled to structures in order to reduce vibrations over a wide frequency range and in adverse environmental conditions. In this work, a multiple-sphere chain impact damper is coupled to a cantilever beam in order to attenuate its flexural motions. This simple configuration was chosen to better understand the energy dissipation phenomena by the device when the beam is subjected to random excitations. In addition, a parametric study of the coupled system is conducted in order to assert optimal working conditions of the damper. This study is mostly based on a numerical model of the vibro-impacting system, which was calibrated based on an experimental rig. Firstly, the computational modal basis of the bare beam was experimentally identified, and then theoretically modified taking into account the mass of the container. Secondly, calibration of the impact model was achieved by fitting the parameters of the contact formulation with respect to sphere-dropping experiments. Finally, extensive parametric computations are presented and discussed. The vibratory responses are computed using a frequency banded Gaussian random excitation, for several values of the excitation amplitude, for an increasing number of spheres and for several values of the damper clearance. The numerical results concern the r.m.s. motion of the spheres and the beam, the r.m.s. spheres/beam contact forces, the average mechanical and dissipated energies by the beam modes and the damper, as well as the effective beam modal parameters when fitted with the damper, which are essential results for understanding these damping devices. Finally, the numerical results are reduced into relevant dimensionless parameters, which prove reasonably effective in collapsing the dynamical data from such a highly nonlinear system. The present study thus highlights interesting essential features on the dynamics of structures coupled to multiple particle vibro-impact dampers under random excitation.