Analysis and optimisation for inerter-based isolators via fixed-point theory and algebraic solution

Abstract

This paper is concerned with the problem of analysis and optimisation of the inerter-based isolators based on a “uni-axial” single-degree-of-freedom isolation system. In the first part, in order to gain an in-depth understanding of inerter from the prospective of vibration, the frequency responses of both parallel-connected and series-connected inerters are analysed. In the second part, three other inerter-based isolators are introduced and the tuning procedures in both the H? optimisation and the H2 optimisation are proposed in an analytical manner. The achieved H2 and H? performance of the inerter-based isolators is superior to that achieved by the traditional dynamic vibration absorber (DVA) when the same inertance-to-mass (or mass) ratio is considered. Moreover, the inerter-based isolators have two unique properties, which are more attractive than the traditional DVA: first, the inertance-to-mass ratio of the inerter-based isolators can easily be larger than the mass ratio of the traditional DVA without increasing the physical mass of the whole system; second, there is no need to mount an additional mass on the object to be isolated.