Effect of Gravity on the Performance of an Impact Damper: Part 2. Stability of Vibrational Modes

Abstract

This paper is c oncerned with the stability of the various modes of vibration of the impact damper system described in Part 1†. Charts are presented showing the ranges of dynamically stable and kinematically viable periodic two-impact-per-cycle motion. The condition of kinematic viability ensures that the trajectory of the free mass remains within the container throughout the motion.

It is shown that in general stable, viable, two-impact-per-cycle motion of the system exists under resonant conditions of the main mass and that away from resonance, where any damper is ineffective, this type of motion is generally unstable.