Selection of granular damper parameters to achieve optimum vibration attenuation on vibrating structures

Abstract

This study provides a compact understanding on the factors that influence the non-linear dissipative performance of granular dampers. The work focuses on the two main motion types within the damper: fluidisation and two-sided collective collision. This is accomplished by conducting experiments on a beam with an attached granular damper and by simulating the beam-damper system with a computationally efficient predictive model. The model is validated by comparing results with those from physical experiments. The results demonstrate that damper parameters affect the two motion types in different ways. Current knowledge of damper performance is explained with this view. Remaining uncertainties are investigated and explained using the experimental and numerical approaches. It is shown that the two types of behaviour can be optimised separately from each other, leading to the understanding that existing damper performance charts can be decomposed for damper-level modelling.