Suppression of the primary resonance vibrations of a forced nonlinear system using a dynamic vibration absorber

In a single degree-of-freedom weakly nonlinear oscillator subjected to periodic external excitation, a small-amplitude excitation may produce a relatively large-amplitude response under primary resonance conditions. Jump and hysteresis phenomena that result from saddle-node bifurcations may occur in the steady-state response of the forced nonlinear oscillator. A simple mass-spring-damper vibration absorber is thus employed to suppress the nonlinear vibrations of the forced nonlinear oscillator for the primary resonance conditions. The values of the spring stiffness and mass of the vibration absorber are significantly lower than their counterpart of the forced nonlinear oscillator. Vibrational energy of the forced nonlinear oscillator is transferred to the attached light mass through linked spring and damper. As a result, the nonlinear vibrations of the forced oscillator are greatly reduced and the vibrations of the absorber are significant. The method of multiple scales is used to obtain the averaged equations that determine the amplitude and phases of the first-order approximate solutions to primary resonance vibrations of the forced nonlinear oscillator. Illustrative examples are given to show the effectiveness of the dynamic vibration absorber for suppressing primary resonance vibrations. The effects of the linked spring and damper and the attached mass on the reduction of nonlinear vibrations are studied with the help of frequency response curves, the attenuation ratio of response amplitude and the desensitisation ratio of the critical amplitude of excitation. © 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved