Modelling and Performance of an Experimental Active Vibration Isolator

Abstract

The performance of an active vibration isolator consisting of a fluid mount and an electromagnetic actuator is discussed. The electromagnetic actuator augments the inertia effects of the fluid mount to reduce the dynamic stiffness of the mount at the vibrational disturbance frequencies of the engine. The active isolator is modeled using bond graphs. Dynamic stiffness, blocked force, and free displacement transfer functions are developed from the bond graph model to gain insight into the active mount’s performance. A mount effectiveness analysis shows that reducing the mount’s dynamic stiffness results in better dynamic isolation. Numerical simulations along with laboratory testing of the active isolator are used to evaluate the performance of the mount. A simple laboratory experiment shows that an active mount can be controlled to have a dynamic stiffness that is 100 times (40 dB) lower than a passive mount, without sacrificing static stiffness.