Optimum absorber parameters for simple systems

Abstract

In the classical problem a damped one degree‐of‐freedom absorber system is attached to a main system, which has one degree of freedom and is undamped. The optimum values of absorber stiffness and damping, which will minimize the resonant response of the main mass, are well known. In this paper the effect on these optimum conditions of light damping in the main system is studied. The authors show that optimum parameters for absorbers, which are attached to beams and plates, can be obtained simply and accurately from those for an equivalent one degree‐of‐freedom main system. This depends upon the concept of an effective mass for the elastic body and the representation of its response by the single relevant mode. It will be shown in a later paper that for more complex elastic bodies such as cylindrical shells, for which the natural frequencies are more closely spaced, these simple concepts do not predict accurately optimum absorber parameters.