Modeling and Design of an Inertial Vibration Reflector

This paper presents the modeling and analysis of a novel vibration suppression device. This reflector system exerts inertial forces, induced by tuned pendular motion, to control translational vibration of a primary system. Tuning of the reflector critically depends on the parameters of the pendula and on the rotational speed at which they are spun about an axis oriented parallel to the undesired motion. Consequently, one of its most appealing attributes is this devices’s ability to be tuned to, and thus actively track, the dominant frequency of disturbance forces. The paper describes how governing equations from an integrated physical model are developed using a bond graph approach and then used to derive relations applicable in design of an inertial reflector system. It is shown how the model supports component selection and tradeoff studies as well as simulation. Experimental results from testing of a laboratory realization of a prototype system are used to verify the design and to compare with simulation of a mathematical model. The results from the laboratory demonstrate the ability of the inertial reflector to control steady and transient vibration, and the favorable results suggest extended investigation for active vibration control situations. In particular, applications in low frequency vibration mitigation are promising.