Modal analysis and demonstration of metastructure combining local resonators and an autonomous synchronized switch damping circuit

A locally resonant metastructure is a promising approach for low-frequency vibration attenuation, whereas the attachment of many resonators results in unnecessary and multiple resonance outside the bandgap. To address this issue, we propose a damping metastructure combining local resonators and an autonomous synchronized switch damping circuit. On the basis of modal analysis, we derive an electromechanically coupled equation of the proposed metastructure. The piezo ceramics, which are attached on a small portion of the metastructure and connected to the circuit, remarkably decrease the magnitude of the resonant vibration with no extra sensors, signal processors, or power sources. The displacement at unnecessary resonance was decreased by approximately 75%. The results of the coupled analysis were similar to the experimentally observed results in terms of the location and width of the bandgap on the frequency axis and the decreased displacement for the circuit. The proposed technique can overcome the disadvantage of the metastructure.

Fast identification of the pull-in voltage of a nano/micro-electromechanical system

The pull-in voltage is crucial in designing an optimal nano/micro-electromechanical system (N/MEMS). It is vital to have a simple formulation to calculate the pull-in voltage with relatively high accuracy. Two simple and effective methods are suggested for this purpose; one is an ancient Chinese algorithm and the other is an extension of He’s frequency formulation.

An optimal control method for time-delay feedback control of 1/4 vehicle active suspension under random excitation

Time-delay feedback control can effectively broaden the damping frequency band and improve the damping efficiency. However, the existing time-delay feedback control strategy has no obvious effect on multi-frequency random excitation vibration reduction control. That is, when the frequency of external excitation is more complicated, there is no better way to obtain the best time-delay feedback control parameters. To overcome this issue, this paper is the first work of proposing an optimal calculation method that introduces stochastic excitation into the process of solving the delay feedback control parameters. It is a time-delay control parameter with a better damping effect for random excitation. In this paper, a 2 DOF one-quarter vehicle suspension model with time-delay is studied. First, the stability interval of time-delay feedback control parameters is solved by using the Lyapunov stability theory. Second, the optimal control parameters of the time-delay feedback control under random excitation are solved by particle swarm optimization (PSO). Finally, the simulation models of a one-quarter vehicle suspension simulation model are established. Random excitation and harmonic excitation are used as inputs. The response of the vehicle body under the frequency domain damping control method and the proposed control method is compared and simulated. To make the control precision higher and the solution speed faster, this paper simulates the model by using the precise integration method of transient history. The simulation results show that the acceleration of the vehicle body in the proposed control method is 13.05% less than the passive vibration absorber under random excitation. Compared with the time-delay feedback control optimized by frequency response function, the damping effect is 12.99%. The results show that the vibration displacement, vibration velocity, and vibration acceleration of the vehicle body are better than the frequency domain function optimization method, whether it is harmonic excitation or random excitation. The ride comfort of the vehicle is improved obviously. It provides a valuable tool for time-delay vibration reduction control under random excitation.

Bending-torsional-axial-pendular nonlinear dynamic modeling and frequency response analysis of a marine double-helical gear drive system considering backlash

The double-helical gear system was widely used in ship transmission. In order to study the influence of backlash on the nonlinear frequency response characteristics of marine double-helical gear system, according to the structural characteristics of double-helical gear transmission, considering the time-varying meshing stiffness, backlash, damping, comprehensive transmission error, external load excitation, and other factors, a three-dimensional bending-torsional-axial-pendular coupling nonlinear dynamic modeling and dynamic differential equation of 24-DOF double-helical gear transmission system were established. The Runge–Kutta numerical method was used to analyze the influence of backlash, time-varying meshing stiffness, damping, error and external load excitation on the amplitude frequency characteristics. The results show that the backlash can cause the runout of the double-helical gear system, and the system has first harmonic and second harmonic response. With the increase of backlash, the amplitude of the system increases and the jumping phenomenon remains unchanged. The amplitude frequency response of the system is stimulated by time-varying meshing stiffness and comprehensive transmission error, and restrained by damping and external load excitation. The vibration displacement amplitude of the system increases with the increase of vibration displacement and has little effect on the state change of the system. The vibration test of double-helical gear is carried out. The frequency response components obtained by numerical simulation are basically consistent with the experimental results, which proves the correctness of the theoretical calculation. It provides a technical basis for the study of vibration and noise reduction performance of double-helical gear.

Dynamics research of Fangzhu’s nanoscale surface

In this paper, we mainly focus on a fractal model of Fangzhu’s nanoscale surface for water collection which is established through He’s fractal derivative. Based on the fractal two-scale transform method, the approximate analytical solutions are obtained by the energy balance method and He’s frequency–amplitude formulation method with average residuals. Some specific numerical experiments of the model show that these two methods are simple and effective and can be adopted to other nonlinear fractal oscillators. In addition, these properties of the obtained solution reveal how to enhance the collection rate of Fangzhu by adjusting the smoothness of its surfaces.

Theoretical study on the phase sensitivity of condenser type acoustic transducers at low frequencies

The phase sensitivity of the condenser type acoustic transducers at low frequencies is crucial for locating large-scale natural and manmade activities, but is now commonly calibrated based on comparison methods. Although the primary method, which traces its sensitivity back to the international standard unit is few studied. Recently, the explicit sensitivity models of the condenser type acoustic transducers based on the laser-pistonphone technique are built, and can be used to study the phase responses of acoustic transducers at infrasonic frequencies. So that, in this paper, the phase sensitivities of acoustic transducers when its rear vent connected to the calibrating sound field or outside atmosphere are studied in detail. Secondly, time domain analysis of generated sound pressures by displacement excitation are derived to reveal the mechanism of phase variation. Calculations show two distinct sensitivities with 90° phase lead and −10° phase lag limits for vent in field and vent out field calibrations, which are dominated by the pressure leakage and heat conduction effects at infrasonic frequencies.

Development of multi-input multi-output virtual tuned mass damper controls for the vibration suppression of structures

This study is concerned with the development of multi-input multi-output control algorithms for the active vibration suppression of structures using accelerometer signals and force-type actuators. The concept of the single-input single-output virtual tuned mass damper control algorithm developed in the previous study was extended to cope with multiple natural modes of structure equipped with a limited number of sensors and actuators. Two control algorithms were developed based on the assumption of collocated control. One is the decentralized virtual tuned mass damper control that produces the actuator signal using only the accelerometer signal of that actuator position. The other is the centralized virtual tuned mass damper control that is designed in modal-space, and produces the modal control force using the modal coordinate. Both the theoretical and experimental results show that the proposed control algorithms are effective in suppressing multiple natural modes with a lesser number of sensors and actuators. However, the decentralized virtual tuned mass damper control can be designed and implemented more easily than the centralized virtual tuned mass damper control.

Research on nonlinear model and fuzzy fractional order PIλDμ control of air suspension system

To improve the ride comfort of wheeled armored vehicles, air springs are used. To describe the vehicle motion more accurately, a nine-degree-of-freedom air suspension system for the whole vehicle was established, and its equations of motion were derived. Through theoretical analysis of the stiffness characteristics and forces on the air springs, the nonlinear restoring force was obtained as a cubic polynomial of the air spring displacement. The simulation results obtained by fitting the polynomial and radial basis function curves with MATLAB/Simulink software are consistent with the actual test results, thus verifying the correctness of the nonlinear air spring polynomial model. Finally, a fuzzy fractional order PIλDμ controller is designed and simulated for the vehicle-seat-body model in terms of wheel dynamic load, suspension dynamic deflection, body acceleration, and other indicators. The simulation results show that the fuzzy fractional order PIλDμ Proportion Integral Differential (PID) control strategy has better overall performance than the PID control strategy, fuzzy control strategy, and fuzzy PID control strategy.

Modeling and control of hybrid MR seat damper and whole body vibration evaluation for bus drivers

This paper describes the design, simulation, and performance evaluation of hybrid MR damper on quarter bus semi-active seat suspension coupled with human biodynamic model. Also, the whole body vibration (WBV) exposures were evaluated based on the international standard ISO 2631 (1997), and its parameters were used to measure the level of discomfort for bus drivers. The hybrid MR damper was proposed to enhance the damping force within low current supplied and achieve a fail-soft capability in case of electrical failure. The characteristics of the proposed hybrid MR damper were compared to the conventional MR damper by considering the same size, materials, and current input. The designed damper was incorporated to seat suspension system coupled with biodynamic lumped model, and the governing equations of motion of the full model were derived. Skyhook controller was used to control the amount of current to be supplied to hybrid MR damper. The controlled semi-active hybrid MR and conventional MR seat suspension are compared to uncontrolled system for two types of road excitation. The simulated results show that the driver seat comfort was improved by the skyhook controller than the uncontrolled case. The evaluated WBV showed that the hybrid MR damper can improve the driver life from fairly uncomfortable to little discomfort.

Numerical simulation of a class of space fractional bistable systems based on the Fourier spectral method

Nonlinear vibration arises everywhere in a bistable system. The bistable system has been widely applied in physics, biology, and chemistry. In this article, in order to numerically simulate a class of space fractional-order bistable system, we introduce a numerical approach based on the modified Fourier spectral method and fourth-order Runge-Kutta method. The fourth-order Runge-Kutta method is used in time, and the Fourier spectrum is used in space to approximate the solution of the space fractional-order bistable system. Numerical experiments are given to illustrate the effectiveness of this method.