A Pendulum Type Particle Impact Damper

Particle Impact Damping (PID) technology shows huge potential in passive vibration control applications. PID is mostly used in aerospace and machinery applications. The working principle of PID is based on the energy dissipation through the impact generated by the collision of particles with particles and with the container walls. The impacts induce harmful stresses to the primary structure in most cases. Particle impact damping is a highly non-linear phenomenon and theoretical models are not well developed. This study presents an approximate theoretical model of particle impact dampers for low natural frequency structures. The vibrating structures are modeled as a simple pendulum oscillating with low frequency. The bob of the pendulum is replaced with an enclosure carrying a particle. Only one particle is used for the analysis to not make the model very complicated. The specific condition for the working of such damper is derived. A detailed theoretical model of the particle impact damper is presented through simple pendulum motion. A soft impact is modeled to reduce the induced stresses to the primary structure by using a smaller value of the coefficient of restitution. The model is then simulated to foresee the oscillations of the pendulum with a particle impact damper.