Vibration suppression of a beam structure by intermediate masses and springs

A method based on the dynamic Green function has been proposed to determine the optimum values of masses and/or springs and their locations on a beam structure in order to confine the vibration at an arbitrary location. In the analysis, the beam is driven by a harmonic external excitation. The added masses on the beam and the springs attached are modelled as simple reactions that provide transverse forces to the beam. These forces act as secondary forces that reduce the response caused by the external force. Numerical simulation shows that the vibration of the beam can be confined in a certain region by the presence of masses and springs in best arrangement. This method is demonstrated for both a simply supported and a cantilever beam. An experimental set-up was designed in which a simply supported beam is excited by an electrodynamic shaker and the response of the beam is measured using an He-Ne laser system. This assures very accurate measurements and avoids any additional loading effects as in the case of accelerometers. Comparisons of the theoretical and the experimental results show good agreement.King Saud Universit