Review of the Paper on

Recent advances in
nonlinear passive vibration
isolators
Author: R.A. Ibrahim

By
Diala Uchenna

Outline
Introduction
Basic characteristic of nonlinear isolators
Ultra-low-frequency vibration isolations
Base isolation of structures
Isolation of liquid storage tanks
Nonlinear viscoelastic and composites

isolators
Viscoelastic isolator materials
Isolation of aerospace structures
Isolation of automotive systems
Conclusion

Introduction
The aim of vibration isolation is to curb

undesirable vibration to keep its harmful

effects maintained within tolerable levels.
A linear isolator attenuates transmitted
vibrations above an excitation frequency,
which exceeds the value of where is the
undamped natural frequency of the isolator.
The transmitted force, Ft reaches a value less
than the excitation force, F0 at an excitation
frequency >
The
ratio
Ft/F0
is
known
as
the
transmissibility, TR.

Basic characteristics of nonlinear

isolators
Need for nonlinear isolation
Linear vibration isolators are efficient if their
natural frequencies are less than the frequency
of excitation.
This makes its application limited since it is
unable to deal with severe environmental
disturbances (e.g Shocks, random ground
motion and Impact loads)with a wide spectrum
(Low -> High).
Linear isolators, due to excess deflections
experienced
from
severe
environmental
disturbances, can cause over-stress and
damage to the system. Hence the need for
nonlinear isolation systems which is more

Basic characteristics of nonlinear

isolators.. contd
Shifting of resonance frequency
The resonance frequency of an isolation system can
be shifted to the left or right of the linear resonance
frequency on the transmissibility plot depending on
the type of nonlinearity to be applied. This can help
prevent unwanted vibration levels.
Chaotic response
A nonlinear isolator, subjected to a harmonic

disturbance, have tendencies of showing some

chaotic behaviours over a certain range of system
and excitation parameters.

Basic characteristics of nonlinear

isolators.. contd
Influence of internal resonance
Nonlinear systems are subject to internal
resonance which is due to interactions between
vertical and horizontal vibrations of a rigid body
and the rotational vibration about its centre of
gravity.
Influence of random excitation
Special isolation systems are required for
systems subjected to random excitations.
Nonlinear isolators are able to operate within a
wide range of frequencies hence are more
appropriate here.

Ultra-low-frequency Vibration
isolators
These type of isolators are required majorly in

improving the sensitivity of terrestrial

gravitational detectors which are limited at
low frequencies due to seismic actions. Some
isolation methods employed here include:
Folded Pendulum isolator
The X-pendulum isolation table
Conical Pendulum

Ultra-low-frequency Vibration isolators

Active
seismic
isolators
for
interferometric gravitational wave
detectors (IGWD) rely on low-noise
low-frequency
accelerometers
designed for advanced mirror
isolation systems of interferometric
gravitational wave detectors. The
accelerometer consists of a small
monolithic folded pendulum with 2
s of natural period.
Folded Pendulum
isolator

Ultra-low-frequency Vibration isolators

X Pendulum isolator

This is a vibration isolation table

using crossed wire suspensions (X
mechanisms). A load table is
suspended using a combination of
normal and upside-down X
mechanisms so that it moves freely
with a very long period in both
horizontal directions but is
moderately stiff in all other degrees
of freedom.
Pendulum r is under tension and
carries the weight of the structure.
The lower end of the rigid beam is
constrained to move in a vertical line
and a is typically made equal to r.
The suspension point b, may be
chosen to give straight line or largeradius curved motion.

Conical Pendulum

Base Isolation of
Structures
The motive here is to design isolation systems

against seismic activities for ground structures

like multi-storey buildings, bridges and liquid
storage tanks etc to preserve structural
integrity and avoid injury to occupants.
Two major isolation methods are involved:
Laminated-rubber

bearing

isolators

lead-core
Frictional-type sliding isolators

with/out

Schematics of some Base Isolation systems

Laminated-rubber bearing isolators with lead-core

Friction base isolators

Isolation of Liquid Storage tanks

Liquid storage containers are usually mounted on the ground either

unanchored or anchored.
Large unanchored tanks usually experience various forms of damages
due to seismic activities especially the elephant foot bulge.
For the isolation of liquid storage tanks, the Friction Pendulum System is
well effective.

Friction Pendulum Isolation System

Nonlinear Viscoelastic and

Composites isolators
Viscoelasticityis the property of materials

that
exhibit
bothviscousand
elastic
characteristics when undergoing deformation.
Nonlinear characteristics are reflected in
mechanical properties such as stiffness and
damping whose parameters depend on
frequency and temperature.
Viscoelastic materials are widely used for
vibration
isolation
in
automotive
and
aerospace industries.

Viscoelastic Isolator
Materials
Nonlinear natural rubber
When rubber material is used, loads producing small
deflections are carried comfortably in shear.
During large deflection produced by overload, the
rubber becomes loaded in compression thus acting
as a compression spring to the motion.
Composite Springs
Various composite materials due to their excellent

properties have been applied in some composite

springs.
The sulcated spring was introduced by Scowen and
Hughes in order to utilize the high tensile strength of
fibre-reinforced plastic in spring systems.

Isolation of aerospace structures

This is essential for space launch vehicles

including space telescopes and microgravity

effects on liquids, combustion and material
management.
Vibration isolations with constant stiffness
elements and damping elements such as
viscoelastic materials, viscous fluids etc have
been extensively used in aerospace applications.
The Whole-space vibration isolation systems
known as Single-axis SoftRide systems have
been developed for the first and second
Orbital/Suborbital Program (OSP).

Isolation of automotive
systems
Designs of rubber and hydraulic mounting

systems have emerged in the automotive

industry to isolate the power-train system,
engine and engine cooling system.
Hydraulic
engine
mounts
exhibit
nonlinearities due to
Internal fluid flow characteristics
Compliances of elastomeric fluid chambers
Vacuum formation

Viscoelastic materials such as rubber are

widely utilized in vibrating damping mounts

here.

Isolation of automotive systems

contd
Magnetorheological fluids was proposed for use in

hydraulic engine mount for damping vehicle

noise and vibration.
AnMR fluid is a type of smart fluid in a carrier
fluid, usually a type of oil.
When subjected to a magnetic field, the fluid
greatly increases its apparent viscosity, to the
point of becoming a viscoelastic solid.
The yield stress of the fluid when in its active
("on") state can be controlled very accurately by
varying the magnetic field intensity.

MR Fluid

Schematic of a magnetorheological fluid solidifying and

blocking a pipe in response to an external magnetic field

Conclusion
Recent advances in base isolation systems have been

reviewed.
Features of nonlinear isolators have been described.
Ultra-low frequency
vibration isolators have been
mentioned and Base isolation systems discussed.
Protection of buildings, bridges and liquid storage tanks
against earth-quakes has been achieved by different types
of base isolation systems such as rubber-lead bearings and
friction-pendulum systems.
Viscoelastic nonlinear isolators exhibit different mechanical
characteristics due to the dependence of their stiffness
and damping parameters on frequency and temperatures.