The impact of dynamic loading and cyclic temperature variations on the damping efficiency of particle dampers

Abstract

A particle damper is a passive damping device, which relies on the high dissipation properties of granular materials. During structural vibration, kinetic energy transfers to the particle damper, initiating collisions among particles and with cavity walls. This interaction results in friction-based dissipation, leading to a reduction in the supporting structure’s vibration amplitude. The granular materials enclosed in the particle dampers undergo significant dynamic loads over the course of their lifespan. The consistent dynamic stress encountered by granular materials might alter the vibration attenuation capability of a particle damper. Therefore, it is crucial to examine the vibration mitigation performance of a particle damper after subjecting it to substantial dynamic loads before implementing it in real-world applications. Hence, the present contribution aims to experimentally investigate the vibration attenuation capability of particle dampers subjected to dynamic loading at 85 million, 165 million, and 330 million cycles. Furthermore, the particle dampers under investigation have also been exposed to a temperature cyclic load ranging from 30 °C to 120 °C. The experimental investigation shows that there is no negative effect on the vibration mitigation performance of the particle dampers before and after being subjected to high-impact dynamic loads and temperature fluctuations. Therefore, the granular material used in designing the particle dampers, which was studied in our previous work and subjected to long-term durability testing in the current contribution, proves to be a favorable choice. It offers advantages in terms of vibration reduction capability, reduction in additional mass, and resilience to negative effects from dynamic loading and temperature cycles.