Analyses and Experiments on a Passive Vibration Isolator Composed of a Cable Network and a Fluid Damper

Abstract

Strings or cables can be used to mitigate unfavorable vibrations. This paper proposes a novel isolator that comprises a cable network and a fluid damper. Equations of the coupled transverse and longitudinal vibrations of a prestressed cable are established to analyze vibration characteristics, which reveal that the transverse vibration is dominant, whereas the longitudinal vibration can be neglected. The structural synthesis method is utilized to obtain the dynamic model of a network with eight cables. The frequency response function (FRF) of the cable network coupled with a vibration source is calculated. Results show that the equivalent stiffness of the cable network changes with the tension linearly. The damper is constructed with fluid filled bellows, and its equivalent damping is analyzed. Tests and experiments are carried out to validate the performance of the isolator. Acceleration transmissibility of the cable network, the fluid damper, and their combination are compared.