Isolator Selection Guide – dB Engineering

May. 06, 2024

Isolator Selection Guide – dB Engineering

Mechanical vibration and shock are present in varying degrees in virtually all locations where equipment and people function. The adverse effect of these disturbances can range from negligible to catastrophic depending on the severity of the disturbance and the sensitivity of the equipment.

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INTRODUCTION

In one extreme, the vibration environment may consist of low-level seismic disturbances present everywhere on earth, which present operating problems to highly sensitive items such as delicate optical equipment. When other disturbances are superimposed on the seismic disturbances, a wide range of precision equipment is adversely affected.

These other disturbances are caused by such things as vehicular and foot traffic, passing trains, air conditioning systems, and nearby rotating and reciprocating machinery. They cause resolution problems in electron microscopes, disturb other optical systems, cause surface finish problems on precision grinders and jig borers, and hamper delicate work on microcircuitry.

Another concept is the detrimental effect of vibrating internal components of certain equipment such as motors, blowers, and fans in computers or similar systems. These components transmit noise and vibration to the surrounding structure resulting in fatigue, reduced reliability, and a “noisy” product.

When compared to stationary applications, vehicular installations subject equipment to much more severe shock and vibration. Vibration from a propulsion engine is present in air, sea and road vehicles as well as shock and vibration effects from the media in which they travel.

Such common phenomena as air turbulence and rough roads impart severe dynamic transients to the vehicles traveling on them. In addition to rough seas, military ships are also subjected to very severe mechanical shock when they encounter near-miss air and underwater explosions in combat.

Vibration-control techniques in the form of shock and vibration isolators have been devised to provide dynamic protection to all types of equipment.

In discussing vibration protection, it is useful to identify the three basic elements of dynamic systems:

The equipment (component, machine motor, instrument, part, etc. ..);
The support structure (floor, baseplate, concrete foundation, etc. ..); and
The resilient member referred to as an isolator or mount (rubber pad, air column, spring, etc.) which is interposed between the equipment and the support structure.

If the equipment is the source of the vibration and/or shock, the purpose of the isolator is to reduce the force transmitted from the equipment to the support structure. The direction of force transmission is from the equipment to the support structure. This is illustrated in Figure 1, where M represents the mass of a motor which is the vibrating source, and K, which is located between the motor and the support structure, represents the isolator.

If the support structure is the source of the vibration and/or shock, the purpose of the isolator is to reduce the dynamic disturbance transmitted from the support structure to the equipment. The direction of motion transmission is from the support structure to the equipment. This occurs, for instance, in protecting delicate measuring instruments from vibrating floors. This condition is illustrated in Figure 2, where M represents the mass of a delicate measuring instrument which is protected from vibrating floor by an isolator signified as K.

In either case, the principle of isolation is the same. The isolator, being a resilient element, stores the incoming energy at a time interval which affords a reduction of the disturbance to the equipment or support structure. The purpose of this Design Guide is to aid the design engineer in selecting the proper isolator to reduce the amount of vibration and/or shock that is transmitted to or from equipment.

DEFINITIONS

Although a vibration isolator will provide some degree of shock isolation, and vice versa, the principles of isolation are different, and shock and vibration requirements should be analyzed separately. In practical situations, the most potentially troublesome environment, whether it be vibration or shock, generally dictates the design of the isolator. In other applications, where both are potentially troublesome, a compromise solution is possible.

Before a selection of a vibration and/or shock isolator can be made, the engineer should have a basic understanding of the following definitions, symbols, and terms:

Vibration: A magnitude (force, displacement, or acceleration) which oscillates about some specified reference where the magnitude of the force, displacement, or acceleration is alternately smaller and greater than the reference. Vibration is commonly expressed in terms of frequency (cycles per second or Hz) and amplitude, which is the magnitude of the force, displacement, or acceleration. The relationship of these terms is illustrated in Figure 3.

Frequency: Frequency may be defined as the number of complete cycles of oscillations which occur per unit of time.

Period: The time required to complete one cycle of vibration.

The time required to complete one cycle of vibration.

Forcing Frequency: Defined as the number of oscillations per unit time of an external force or displacement applied to a system.

Defined as the number of oscillations per unit time of an external force or displacement applied to a system.

Natural Frequency: Natural frequency may be defined as the number of oscillations that a system will carry out in unit time if displaced from it equilibrium position and allowed to vibrate freely. (See Figure 3)

Natural frequency may be defined as the number of oscillations that a system will carry out in unit time if displaced from it equilibrium position and allowed to vibrate freely. (See Figure 3)

Also, Natural frequency for torsional vibration:

Equations 1 through 5 all neglect the effects of damping. When damping is considered, Equation 2 becomes:

Amplitude: The amplitude of a harmonic vibration such as displacement, velocity, or acceleration is the zero to peak value corresponding to the maximum magnitude of a harmonic vibration time-history. (See Figure 3.)

The amplitude of a harmonic vibration such as displacement, velocity, or acceleration is the zero to peak value corresponding to the maximum magnitude of a harmonic vibration time-history. (See Figure 3.)

Displacement: Displacement is a vector quantity that specifies the change of the position of a body or particle and is usually measured from the mean position or equilibrium position. In general it can be represented by a translation or rotation vector or both. (See Figure 3)

Velocity: Velocity is a vector that specifies the time rate change of displacement with respect to a frame of reference.

Velocity is a vector that specifies the time rate change of displacement with respect to a frame of reference.

Acceleration: Acceleration is a vector that specifies the time rate of change of velocity with respect to a frame of reference. The acceleration produced by the force of gravity, which varies with the latitude and elevation of the point of observation, is given by g = 980.665 centimeters per second = 386.093 in/sec_ = 32.1739 ft/sec_, which has been chosen as a standard acceleration due to gravity.

Acceleration is a vector that specifies the time rate of change of velocity with respect to a frame of reference. The acceleration produced by the force of gravity, which varies with the latitude and elevation of the point of observation, is given by g = 980.665 centimeters per second = 386.093 in/sec_ = 32.1739 ft/sec_, which has been chosen as a standard acceleration due to gravity.

Deflection: Deflection is defined as the distance an body or spring will move when subjected to a static or dynamic force, F.

Deflection is defined as the distance an body or spring will move when subjected to a static or dynamic force, F.

Spring Stiffness: Described as a constant which is the ratio of a force increment to a corresponding deflection increment of the spring.

Described as a constant which is the ratio of a force increment to a corresponding deflection increment of the spring.

Rotational spring stiffness:

Elastic Center: The elastic center is defined as a single point at which the stiffness of an isolator or system isolators can be represented by a single stiffness value.

The elastic center is defined as a single point at which the stiffness of an isolator or system isolators can be represented by a single stiffness value.

Damping: Damping is the phenomenon by which energy is dissipated in a vibratory system. Three types of damping generally encountered are: coulomb, hysteresis and viscous.

Coulomb Damping: If the damping force in a vibratory system is constant and independent of the position or velocity of the system, the system is said to have coulomb or dry friction damping.

Hysteresis (Inherent) Damping: Damping which results from the molecular structure of a material when that material is subjected to motion is referred to as hysteresis damping. Elastomers are good examples of materials which possess this type of damping.

Viscous Damping: If any particle in a vibrating body encounters a force which has a magnitude proportional to the magnitude of the velocity of the particle in a direction opposite to the direction of the velocity of the particle, the particle is said to be viscously damped. This is the easiest type of damping to model mathematically. All of the equations in this text are based on use of a viscous damping coefficient. Although most isolators do not use viscous damping, equivalent viscous damping usually yields excellent results when modeling systems.

Damping Coefficient: Damping for a material is expressed by its damping coefficient.

Critical Damping: A system is said to be critically damped when it is displaced from its static position and most quickly returns to this initial static position without any over-oscillation. The damping coefficient required for critical damping can be calculated using:

A system is said to be critically damped when it is displaced from its static position and most quickly returns to this initial static position without any over-oscillation. The damping coefficient required for critical damping can be calculated using:

Damping Factor: The non-dimensionless ratio which defines the amount of damping in a system.

The non-dimensionless ratio which defines the amount of damping in a system.

Resonance: When the forcing frequency coincides with the natural frequency of a suspension system, this condition is known as resonance.

When the forcing frequency coincides with the natural frequency of a suspension system, this condition is known as resonance.

Transmissibility: Defined as the ratio of the dynamic output to the dynamic input.

For negligible damping ( ), T becomes:

When resonance occurs, and, T is at its max and Equation 10 becomes:

Shock: Defined as a motion in which there is a sharp, nearly sudden change in velocity. Examples of this are a hammer blow on a anvil or a package falling to the ground. Shock may be expressed mathematically as a motion in which the velocity changes very suddenly.

Defined as a motion in which there is a sharp, nearly sudden change in velocity. Examples of this are a hammer blow on a anvil or a package falling to the ground. Shock may be expressed mathematically as a motion in which the velocity changes very suddenly.

Shock Pulse: Shock pulse is a primary disturbance characterized by a rise and decay of acceleration from a constant value in a very short period of time. Shock pulses are normally displayed graphically as acceleration vs. time curves. See Figure 11 for examples of typical curves.

Shock Transmission: Shock transmitted to the object subjected to the shock. This can be calculated with the following equation:

In this equation, V represents an instantaneous velocity shock. Most shock inputs can be approximated by an instantaneous velocity shock. See shock isolation section starting on page X for more detail.

The associated dynamic linear deflection of an isolator under shock can be determined by the use of the following equation:

DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS

Vertical Vibration: In the general introduction of this Guide, it was pointed out that vibration and shock can have gross detrimental effects on the performance and reliability of a particular product. The vibration which a unit transmits to a supporting structure or the vibration which a unit feels when it is being excited by a vibrating structure can be reduced or attenuated by an isolator if properly selected. Referring to the following discussion of how an isolator functions, the design example section of this Guide contains problem solutions which use the equations and graphs presented in this section.

The function of an isolator may be best understood by first reducing it to its simplest form, as illustrated in Figure 4. The system of Figure 4 includes a rigid mass M supported by a spring K and constrained by guides to move only in vertical translation without rotation about a vertical axis. A damper C is arranged in parallel with the spring between the support and the mass. The mounted equipment is simulated by the mass while the spring and damper taken together simulate the elasticity and damping of the conventional isolator. The system shown in Figure 4 is said to be a single-degree-of-freedom system because its configuration at any time may be specified by a single coordinate; e.g., by the height of the mass M with respect to the fixed support.

Isolation is attained primarily by maintaining the proper relationship between the disturbing frequency and the system’s natural frequency. The characteristics of the isolator include its natural frequency, or more properly, the natural frequency of the system consisting of isolator and mounted equipment. In general, a system has a natural frequency for each degree of freedom; the single-degree-of-freedom system illustrated in Figure 4 thus has one natural frequency. The expression for the damped natural frequency of the system illustrated in Figure 4, expressed in cycles per second, is:

A critical damped system returns without oscillation to equilibrium if displaced; it has no natural frequency of oscillation, as indicated by the substitution of C=Cc in Equation 6.

In most circumstances the value of the damping coefficient is relatively small. The influence of damping on the natural frequency may then be neglected. Setting the damping coefficient C equal to zero, the system becomes an undamped single-degree-of-freedom system, and the undamped natural frequency given by:

This expression is sufficiently accurate for calculating the actual natural frequency in most instances.

The concept of static deflection often is used to define the characteristics of an isolator. Static deflection is the deflection of the isolator under the static or deadweight load of the mounted equipment. Referring to Equation 2 and substituting in/sec2, , the following expression is obtained for natural frequency in terms of static deflection:

A graphic portrayal of Equation 4 is given in Figure 5. It thus appears possible to determine the natural frequency of a singledegree-of-freedom system by measuring only the static deflection. This is true with certain qualification. First, the spring must be linear — its force vs. deflection curve must be a straight line. Second, the resilient material must have the same type of elasticity under both static and dynamic conditions.

Metallic springs generally meet this latter requirement, but many organic materials used in isolators do not. The dynamic modulus of elasticity of these materials is higher than the static modulus; the natural frequency of the isolator is thus somewhat greater than that calculated on the basis of static deflection alone.

Dynamic stiffness may be obtained indirectly by determining the natural frequency when the isolator is vibrated with a known load and calculating the dynamic stiffness from Equation 2. The various organic materials have certain peculiarities with respect to dynamic stiffness which will be discussed later in connection with the specific materials.

Effectiveness of isolators in reducing vibration is indicated by the transmissibility of the system. Figure 6 illustrates a typical transmissibility curve for an equipment of weight W supported on an isolator with stiffness K and damping coefficient C which is subjected to a vibration disturbance of frequency fd. When the system is excited at its natural frequency, the system will be in resonance and the disturbance forces will be amplified rather than reduced.Therefore, it is very desirable to select the proper isolator so that its natural frequency will be excited as little as possible in service and will not coincide with any critical frequencies of the equipment.

Referring to Figure 6, it can be seen that when the ratio of the disturbing frequency fd over the natural frequency fn is less than or 1.4, the transmissibility is greater than 1, or the equipment experiences amplification of the input. Simply expressed, when:

theoretically, isolation begins when:

Also it can be seen that when:

the mounted unit is said to be isolated; i.e., the output Xo is less than input Xi.

Damping: The majority of isolators possess damping in varying degrees. A convenient reference illustrating damping factor C/Cc for various materials is shown in Table 1. Damping is advantageous when the mounted system is operating at or near its natural frequency because it helps to reduce transmissibility. For example, consider an internal combustion engine mounted on steel springs which possess very little damping (see Table 1). Upon start up of the engine and as the engine RPM increases, the disturbing frequency of the engine will at some point correspond with the natural frequency of the spring-mass system. With light damping the buildup of forces from the engine to the support will be very large; that is, transmissibility will be very high. If the idle RPM of the engine falls in the range of the natural frequency of the spring-mass system, serious damage may result to the engine or to the support chassis. If, on the other hand, the designer selects an elastomeric isolator which possesses a higher degree of damping, amplification at resonance would be much less.

The relationship between a highly damped and a lightly damped system is illustrated in Figure 8. This figure shows that as damping is increased, isolation efficiency is somewhat reduced in the isolation region. While high values of damping cause significant reduction of transmissibility at resonance, its effect in the isolation region is only a small increase transmissibility.

A family of curves which relate fn, fd, transmissibility and damping are shown in Figure 8. This family of curves was derived by use of Equation 10.

Horizontal Vibration: When an isolation system is excited horizontally, two natural frequencies result if the center of gravity of the unit is not in line with the elastic center of the isolators. A typical transmissibility curve illustrating this horizontal vibration output is illustrated in Figure 9. The two natural frequencies which are involved include a lower mode wherein the equipment rocks about a point well below the elastic center of the isolators and a higher mode where the equipment oscillates about a point in the vicinity of the center of gravity. Two other natural frequencies will occur if the equipment is rotated 90 degrees in the horizontal plane with respect to the exciting force.

Figure 10 can be used to determine the approximate frequencies of these modes as a function of spring stiffness and equipment dimensions. These curves assume that the equipment is solid, of uniform mass, and that the isolators are attached at the extreme corners. Under horizontal excitation the equipment may be made to translate only by lining up the center of gravity of the equipment with the elastic center of the isolators instead of installing the isolators at the bottom corners of the equipment. In this case, Figure 10 may be applied by letting H/W = 0, which results in only one mode of vibration, that of translation. A second mode can only be excited by torsional excitation.

Structure-Borne Noise: The demand on equipment today is to maximize its output which generally requires faster operation and more complex mechanical motions. As a result, noise is sometimes generated. High frequency disturbances are excited because the moving components within the equipment impose vibratory inputs to the internal structures. These vibrations are amplified and structureborne noise is encountered. Complete equipments bolted to their support foundations also cause similar noisy conditions.

An effective and low cost means of alleviating structureborne noise problems is to physically separate the solid structures and interpose a resilient material between them. In this manner a mechanical attachment is provided but the resilient media prevents the vibration forces from being transmitted nd structure-borne noise is substantially reduced.

Elastomeric materials are generally best suited for structure-borne noise reduction. They exhibit the desirable characteristics of shape flexibility and inherent damping to avoid spring-like response which might produce violent resonances at critical frequencies. They afford high frequency isolation. Many isolators suitable for attenuation of structureborne noise problems are available from dB Engineering.

Shock: Shock is normally classified as a transient phenomenon, while a typical vibration input is classified as a steady-state phenomenon. A shock input pulse is normally described by its peak amplitude A expressed in g’s, by its duration t normally expressed in milliseconds, and its overall shape, which can take such forms as half-sine, triangular, (initial peak sawtooth, symmetrical and terminal peak sawtooth), versed sine, rectangular, and the form most likely to occur in nature, a more or less random shaped complex waveform force and acceleration impulse as shown in Figure 11. Since there are many types of shock pulses encountered in nature, there are many types of shock tests specified for testing a piece of equipment. The different shock tests are normally associated with the environment that the equipment will encounter during its lifetime. Equipment installed in aircraft is normally tested on a free-fall shock machine which will generate either a half-sine or terminal peak sawtooth form. A typical test is an 11-millisecond half-sine waveform with a peak acceleration of 15 g’s. For components in some areas of missiles where large shock pulses will be felt due to explosive separation of stages, a 6-millisecond sawtooth at 100 g’s may be specified. If a piece of equipment is going on board a Navy vessel, the normal test will be the hammer blow specified in MIL-S-901, which exhibits a velocity shock of approximately 120 in./sec. Shipping containers are normally tested by dropping the container on a concrete floor, or by suspending it by some suitable support mechanism and letting it swing against a concrete abutment. Other tests pertaining to shipment are edge and corner drops from various drop heights. All of these tests mentioned attempt to simulate the shock pulse which will be encountered in the normal environment of the equipment. These are generally called out by the specific contractual requirements either in a specification or in a work requirement.

The isolation of shock inputs is considerably different from that of a vibration input. The shock isolator is characterized as a storage device wherein the input energy, usually with a very steep wave front, is instantaneously absorbed by the isolator. This energy is stored in the isolator and released at the natural frequency of the spring-mass system.

The most common procedure for predicting shock isolation is a mathematical approach utilizing equations in Figure 11, for determining the velocity, and Equation 13, for calculating transmitted accelerations.

Another means is through the use of shock transmissibility curves. Shock transmissibility curves are not included in this Guide, but are included in a technical paper published by Barry Controls titled Passive Shock Isolation. Please call 1-800-NoNoise (1-800-666-6473) for a copy of this paper.

These two methods are valid for solving shock problems provided that the shock pulse is thoroughly defined, and that the isolation system responds in its linear region.

Nonlinear Isolators: The preceding discussion of vibration and shock isolation presumes that the isolator is linear, the force-deflection curve for the isolator is a straight line. This simplified analysis is entirely adequate for many purposes. In the isolation of steady-state vibration, displacement amplitude is usually small, and nonlinearity of the isolator tends to be unimportant except where deflection resulting from the static load is relatively great. In the isolation of shock, nonlinearity tends to be more important because large deflections prevail. The degree of isolation may then be substantially affected by the ability, or lack thereof, of the isolator to accommodate the required deflection.

In many applications of shock isolation, sufficient space is not available to allow for full travel of a linear isolator. Therefore, a nonlinear isolator is necessary. There are two types of isolators that can be designed to help solve the problem of insufficient space.

The first solution is to make an isolator that gets stiffer as deflection increases. This will limit the amount of motion, but will increase the G level imparted on the equipment. The second is to use an isolator that is stiff at small deflection, but gets softer at higher deflections. This is referred to as a buckling isolator, and is shown in Figure 12. This allows the isolator to store more energy in the same amount of deflection. (A shock isolator is basically an energy storage device; it stores high g-level, short-duration shock and releases them as low g-level, longer-duration shocks.)

ISOLATORS AND MATERIALS

Isolators are made from a wide variety of resilient media having diverse characteristics. Each type of isolator has characteristic properties and is particularly suited to certain specialized applications. To make the best use of available isolators, the designer should understand the basic properties of each type. He should also be familiar with the requirements for isolators for various types of equipment, as indicated in the preceding discussions. Keep in mind that not all isolators can be manufactured out of any material.

Elastomeric Isolators: Elastomers are well adapted for use in shock isolators because of their high energy storage capacity and because the convenience of molding to any shape makes it possible to attain the linearity or nonlinearity required for adequate shock isolation.

Elastomers are well adapted for use in shock isolators because of their high energy storage capacity and because the convenience of molding to any shape makes it possible to attain the linearity or nonlinearity required for adequate shock isolation.

Most elastomeric isolators cannot be constantly subjected to large strains. An isolator with a large static deflection may give satisfactory performance temporarily but it tends to drift or creep excessively over a relatively short period of time. Opinions on maximum permissible static strain vary widely, but it may be taken as a conservative limitation that elastomers should not be continuously strained more than 10 to 15% in compression, nor more than 25 to 50% in shear. These rules of thumb are often used to determine the maximum load capacity of a given isolator.

In spite of the limitations of elastomeric materials used in isolators, the overall advantages far outweigh the disadvantages and make elastomers the most highly desirable type of resilient media for isolators.

With this type of isolator, the elastomer is strained in compression when the load is applied along “A” direction. Stiffness in any direction perpendicular to the “A” direction, such as the “B” direction, is a function of the shear modulus of the elastomer, and tends to be relatively low compared compressive stiffness.

Springs: Metal springs can be used as vibration isolators. In some instances, these types of isolators work well. Frequently, the lack of damping in these type of isolators forces them to experience extremely violent resonances conditions (see “Damping” section and Figure 8).

Combination Spring-Friction Damper: To overcome the disadvantages of little or no damping in coil springs, friction dampers can be designed in parallel with the load-carrying spring. These types of isolators are widely used in practice. An example of this is illustrated in Figure 13.

In this construction, along the vertical axis a plastic damper slides along the walls of a cup housing, and the normal force is provided by a radial damper spring. For horizontal damping, a central metal core which is directly attached on its top side to the equipment bears on the damper on its bottom side. The normal force is provided by the weight of the equipment, and damping results from the sliding during horizontal excitations. Transmissibility values of about 2 are exhibited by using this type of spring/damper combination.

Combination Springs with Air Damping: Another method of adding damping to a spring is by use of an air chamber with an orifice for metering the air flow. An example of this type of isolator is illustrated in Figure 14. In this construction the load-carrying spring is located within the confines of an elastomeric damping balloon. The air chamber is formed by closing the balloon with a cap which contains an orifice or the force flow metering. Under dynamic excitations the air in the balloon passes through a predetermined sized orifice by which damping is closely controlled. Transmissibilities generally under 4 result with this type of design.

Air-damped springs have some specific advantages over seemingly similar friction damped designs with respect to isolating low-level inputs. Air damping, a form of viscous damping, causes the damping forces to be reduced if the input levels are reduced.

With friction damping, the friction force is constant. In practice, this means that the damping ratio is effectively increased with the input levels are decreased. Referring to Figure 8, one can see increasing the damping ratio decreases the level of isolation. In summary, air damped isolators are best suited for isolating low-level vibrations, while friction damped isolators are usually ideal for higher-level vibrations.

Combination Springs with Wire Mesh Damping: For applications where all meal isolators are desired because of temperature extremes or other environmental factors, damping can be added to a load carrying spring by use of metal mesh inserts Figure 15 illustrates this concept.

In this construction a knitted mesh wire is formed into a resilient cushion and inserted within the inside diameter of the coil spring. When dynamic loads are applied, the strands of the mesh rub on each other and damping is accomplished. Transmissibilities under 6 are generally exhibited by the spring-wire mesh damper combination.

Wire mesh cushions are sometimes used as isolators without the addition of a spring in parallel. Although transmissibilities of such an isolator range in the region of 4, an isolator so designed has the disadvantage of creep or high compression set. Once the metal pads take a compression set their performance under dynamic conditions is difficult to predict. An example of this type isolator is illustrated in Figure 16.

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Pneumatic Systems: This type of isolator utilizes the principle of supporting the static load on an air column. It is particularly useful where low fn systems are required; that is, 0.5 to 3 Hz region. An air spring enables the system to have a “zero” static deflection under load. This is particularly noteworthy since a conventional spring system would need to deflect a magnitude of 3.3 feet to acquire a 0.5 Hz natural frequency and 1.1 in. for a 3 Hz natural frequency. Pneumatic isolators can use a method of damping called sprung damping. This allows the isolator to have very high damping at resonance, but very low damping in the isolation region. A Barry pneumatic isolator which follows the laws of relaxation of sprung damping offers the benefits of very low T at resonance (generally 1.5) and yet offer a high degree of isolation in the high-frequency regions by acting as an undamped spring.

dB Engineering also offers a complete line of actively controlled pneumatic isolators. To request information on our Active and Pneumatic Vibration Solutions, call 1-800-NoNoise.

Miscellaneous Types of Isolators: Other materials sometimes are used for vibration and shock isolators. Wool felt is often used for mounting entire machines but is seldom designed as a component part of a machine. A similar situation exists with regard to cork. Another material in the same category is neoprene impregnated fabric. The manufacturers of spun glass have also suggested the use of this material for the isolation of vibration. All of these materials appear to have characteristic advantages for particular installation. However, the ability of these materials to isolate vibration and particularly shock is difficult to predict, and the dynamic properties of these materials are not well documented in the technical literature.

Little difficulty is encountered in the design of isolators using elastomeric materials or metal springs. The performance characteristics of these materials are very predictable under dynamic conditions.

STEP-BY-STEP ISOLATOR SELECTION

Step 1: Determine the frequency of the disturbing vibration, often called the disturbing frequency, fd. There are a number of ways to determine the disturbing frequency. For rotating equipment, the disturbing frequency is usually equal to the rotational speed of the equipment, expressed in revolutions per minute (RPM) or cycles per minute (CPM). If the speed is specified in RPM or CPM, it must be converted to cycles per second (Hz) by dividing by 60.

For other types of equipment, disturbing frequencies must be specified by the manufacturer or measured. Environmental vibrations can also be measured, or are sometimes specified in military or commercial specifications or test reports.

There could be more than one disturbing frequency. In this case, one should first focus on the lowest frequency. If the lowest frequency is isolated, then all of the other higher frequencies will also be isolated.

The most important thing to remember about vibration isolation is that without knowing the frequency of the disturbing vibration, no analytical isolation predictions can be made. In many of these cases, dB Engineering can recommend solutions that have worked well in similar past applications. Please contact our Applications Engineering Department at (800)-NoNoise (1-800-666-6473) if you need help or advice on your application.

Step 2: Determine the minimum isolator natural frequency, fn, that will provide isolation. This natural frequency can be calculated by using the following equation:

If this fn is exceeded, this isolation system will not perform properly, and it is quite possible that you will amplify the vibrations. Isolators that have a fn lower than that calculated in Equation 15 will provide isolation.

At this point, there will be many isolators that can be removed from the list of possible selections. Our catalog clearly states the natural frequency range of each isolator family in the main information block on the first page of each family. If any of the information is missing or unclear, please contact dB Engineering Applications Engineering at (800)-NoNoise (1-800-666-6473).

Step 3: Determine what isolator natural frequency will provide the desired level of isolation. Step 2 has provided a quick way to determine which mounts provide isolation, but does not provide any information on the level of isolation that will be achieved. Equation 11 can be used to calculate transmissibility:

Equation 11 can be used to calculate the transmissibility of a known disturbing frequency through a mount with a known natural frequency. It can also be rearranged to the following form:

Equation 16 is valid only when fd/fn>1. This can be used to calculate the required natural frequency to achieve the desired level of isolation of a particular disturbing frequency.

Step 4: Select the appropriate isolator for your application. Step 3 should reduce the list of possible isolators considerably, but there still may be more than one isolator that “qualifies.” One way to determine which is best suited is to look under the “Applications” heading on the first page of each isolator family. If your application is not in this list, it does not necessarily mean that the isolator can’t be used, but there may be a better choice.

The selection can also be narrowed down by looking at the environmental and dimensional data sections for each candidate isolator. Is the temperature range appropriate? Can the isolator fit in the required space? Is the mount capable of supporting a load in the necessary direction? These are typical questions than can be used to make a final selection.

If there is still more than one isolator that fits your application, or if you cannot find one that meets all of your requirements, please contact our Applications Engineering department at (800) NoNoise (1-800-666-6473). We have expert engineers available to help make selections and answer questions about our products.

DESIGN EXAMPLES

This section deals with the selection and application of vibration and shock isolators. For the proper selections of isolators, it is desirable to obtain, where possible, pertinent information relating to the equipment, input and output requirements, and the general environment. Examples of the type of information or data required are:

Relating to the equipment:

Fragility level of the equipment.

Relating to the dynamic inputs and outputs:

Space limitations.

Relating to general environment:

Altitude.

All of the above information is not always readily available nor is it always completely required in some applications. This will be further clarified in the following problem examples.

Example 1 – Vertical Vibration: A metal tumbling drum directly driven by a 1080 RPM motor is causing vibration disturbance to the floor on which it is mounted the drum, motor, and support base weighs 400 pounds. There are 4 mounting points for the isolators.The required isolation is 80%.

Determine fn of isolators required by using mathematical methods.
Determine static deflection of isolators by using (a) mathematical methods and (b) the static deflection vs. natural frequency curve in Figure 5.
Determine damping factor C/Cc to limit transmissibility at resonance to 10 by using (a) mathematical methods and (b) the transmissibility curve in Figure 8.
Determine the resilient media which could be used in the isolator selected to provide the C/Cc required.
Determine the proper isolator to use for this application.

SOLUTION:

Known facts

Isolation required = 80%
i.e. transmissibility = 0.20
Disturbing frequency, fd = 1080 RPM
1. Using Equation 16, page 63:

2a. To find static deflection using mathematical approach use Equation 4, page 53:

2b. To find static deflection using static deflection-natural frequency curve Figure 5, page 56. The intersection of fn of 7.35 Hz and the solid diagonal line yields a Ds of approximately 0.18 inches.

3a. To find C/Cc for a transmissibility of 10 by mathematical approach use Equation 12, page 54. Solving for C/Cc:

3b. To find C/Cc for a T of 10 by use of the transmissibility curve Figure 8, page 57. This curve shows that for a transmissibility of 10, C/Cc = 0.05.

4a. To find the correct resilient media which exhibits a C/Cc = 0.05 refer to Table 1, page 57. It can be seen that natural rubber or neoprene would be the proper selection.

5a. An isolator which best fits the above solved parameters is Barry Part No. 633A-100. Refer to the product information on pages 116-118 of this catalog to confirm that this product meets all of the above needs.

Example 2 – Vertical and Horizontal Vibration: An electronic transmitter which weighs 100 pounds, and has a height of 15″, a width of 20″ and a length of 30″ is to be mounted in a ground vehicle which imparts both vertical and horizontal vibratory inputs to the equipment. Since rough terrain is to be encountered a captive isolator is required. Four mounting points, one at each corner, are provided. It has been determined that the first critical frequency of the equipment is such thatan isolator with a 25 Hz vertical natural frequency would be satisfactory. Select an appropriate isolator and determine the approximate horizontal rocking modes in the direction of the short axis of the equipment which would be excited.

Solution:

For vertical natural frequency: Load per isolator = 100/4 = 25 lb. Referring to a Barry isolator series designed for the rigors of vehicular applications, the 5200 series is suitable. From the load rating table in the product information section (18-30 pounds capacity for vehicular applications) would handle the 25 pound load.Using the load vs. natural frequency plots on page 192, the intersection of the 5220 curve for the 25 pounds load yields an fn of 24 Hz.
For horizontal rocking modes: The dynamic stiffness ratio of horizontal to vertical = 0.6 for the 5200 series. Referring to Figure 10, page 58 and assuming that mass is homogeneous and isolators are at extreme corners, the following is found:
From the curves in Figure 10, page 58, the ratios of fn/fVERT for first mode M1 is 0.7 and for second mode, M2, is 1.7.fn, 1st mode = 24 X 0.7 = 16.9 Hz
fn, 2nd mode = 24 X 1.7 = 40.8 HzIt is seen that this procedure lends a ready solution to determining the horizontal rocking modes based on the assumptions made. This solution is not exact but is generally satisfactory for practical purposes.

Example 3 – Shock: An electronic equipment is to be subjected to a 15G, 11 millisecond half-sine shock input. The equipment is mounted on a 10 Hz natural frequency isolation system. Determine maximum shock transmission and isolator deflection.

Solution:

The equation for shock velocity change for a half-sine pulse is:

where:
Ao=15G
to=0.011 sec
g=386 in/sec2
using Equation 13, page 55, the maximum shock transmission is:

using equation 14, page 55, the isolator deflection required to attenuate this shock:

ISOLATOR PROPERTIES MATRIX

Vibration Absorbers: Types, Operation, Advantages & Uses

Vibration Absorbers

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Introduction

This article will take an in-depth look at vibration absorbers.

The article will bring more understanding on topics such as:

Vibration Absorbers Principle of Operation
Damping in Vibration Absorbers
Types of Vibration Absorbers
Applications of Vibration Absorbers
And Much More…

Chapter 1: Vibration Absorbers Principle of Operation

This chapter will discuss vibration absorbers, their nomenclature, and the principle of operation.

What is a Vibration Absorber?

A vibration absorber is a single degree of freedom (DOF) spring-mass system that eliminates or reduces the vibration of a harmonically excited system such as the rotation of engines, motors, generators, belts, etc. to create a comfortable and safe environment. A vibration absorber is normally attached to the vibrating body and is designed to produce “anti-resonance” to the system. An example of a vibration absorber used to neutralize the oscillations created by the vibrating forces is shown below.

Nomenclature of Vibration Absorbers

Vibration absorbers are common in many machines and mechanical systems, and it is important to understand the nomenclature of vibration absorbers. This is detailed below.

Vibration in Vibration Absorbers

Vibration can be defined as a mechanical phenomenon that is experienced when oscillations occur about an equilibrium point. Vibrations can be desirable; like in the construction industry, they can be used to mix concrete in a concrete vibrator. Vibrations can have negative effects in some cases, especially when they are producing unwanted sounds and in other instances, they tend to waste energy. In electric motors, engines, and many mechanical operations vibrations are not wanted. When the produced vibrations are not wanted, absorbers are implemented to eliminate, reduce or remove the vibrations.

What is Resonance?

Resonance is defined as the creation of increased amplitude that occurs when the natural frequency of a system is in tune with the frequency of the periodically applied force. Again, this phenomenon can be desirable or undesirable depending on where it occurs. In the construction industry, resonance is mostly undesirable as it causes structures such as bridges, walls, buildings to crack or fall due to the increased shaking or vibrating resulting from increased amplitudes. In the music industry, resonance has positive results, and it is used to produce sound in musical instruments.

Measuring Amplitude

Amplitude is the maximum value reached by a displaced object or point in a body. In a vibrating body or other displacement, this value is measured from the equilibrium of the body. In a sound wave, the amplitude value is obtained by measuring the loudness of the sound.

Energy Absorption

Energy absorption is defined as the process involved when the magnitudes of the strength of random motions (vibrations) are reduced.

Natural Frequency

In a given unit of time, the number of cycles that a body or object vibrates freely is referred to as the natural frequency.

What Shock is

Shock is the instability or the shifting of a body from its equilibrium point when a force is suddenly applied to it.

Vibration Control

Vibration control uses different devices such as isolators, dampers, pads, and mounts to absorb the kinetic energy released by vibrating bodies to prevent the energy from reaching adjacent surfaces.

How Vibration Absorbers Work

In most cases, vibration absorbers are used with machines and systems that operate at constant speed or with systems that constantly have exciting frequencies. The system is made up of the primary system and the absorber, as shown on the diagram below.

Vibration Absorber System Set Up

The system setup of vibration absorbers can be set up as follows:

The Primary System (Payload)

The primary system is also known as the payload in some systems. It is the system that experiences the unwanted frequencies which ought to be controlled or neutralized. This could be a motor, engine, bridge, machine tool, etc. Its long chains allow it to recover when stretched or deformed by returning to the original state.

The Absorber

The absorber is also known as the support because it helps the primary system by eliminating or reducing the vibration encountered in the system. This involves components like rubber mounts, springs, pads, etc. The absorber could be hydraulic, where the vibrations are absorbed by using a hydraulic system.

Vibration Absorber Energy Absorption

The vibrations produced from equipment are technically another form of energy (Kinetic energy) that gets dissipated in the form of random oscillation. Rubber has characteristics that allow it to absorb large amounts of kinetic energy, such as its elasticity. Rubber is resilient and resistant to temperature, making it a good fit in high-temperature conditions like engines. It can bond with most metals, has a high shear modulus and nonlinear stiffness characteristics which make it one of the most sought-after materials. Silicone, butyl, fluoroelastomer, neoprene, and EPDM are some of the most common natural and synthetic rubber materials used for an application that requires heat and chemical resistance characteristics.

Vibration Absorber Hydraulic Shock Systems

A hydraulic system comprises a hydraulic cylinder, piston rod, and hydraulic fluid. The diagram below illustrates the components of a simple hydraulic system. The vibrations impact or put a force onto the piston rod, which in turn will force the fluid inside the cylinder to move. The liquid inside the cylinder will convert the kinetic energy from the vibrations into heat. Below is an image showing the different parts of a hydraulic shock absorber.

Vibration Absorber Design

When designing vibration absorbers, there are certain things to consider for the design to be effective for the desired job. The design varies with the complexity of the system. In some instances, it is best to use both the spring and the rubber, whereas in some a simple rubber mount works effectively.

Design of Rubber Mounts

Rubber mounts are a piece of materials designed to absorb vibrations in vibrating systems by mounting them between materials such as metals. They prevent wear and tear of materials thereby reducing maintenance costs. Rubber mounts come in different shapes, sizes and material types depending on the application.

Rubber Mount Deformation

Rubber mounts deform when put under load from the machines and in some cases if there are no design considerations made on these mounts, they might end up deformation very quickly. There is a need for finite element analysis in some cases, which requires critical vibrational control before installing them. Shock loading is an important factor in analyzing rubber mount deformation because the amount of deformation is related to the load onto the rubber mounts. Shock loads are more detrimental and destroy general vibrations and, in most cases, if the device or mount can survive these loads it is likely to stay longer under mechanical vibrations.

Fabrication of Rubber Isolators

Rubber isolators are common in the absorption of vibrations. They are made out of springs and rubber. Both the spring and the rubber can absorb vibrations, and, in this case, they are combined. There are ways of manufacturing or fabricating this isolator, such as the molding and extrusion techniques used with the press. In most cases, additives such as sulfur, urethane, peroxides, metallic oxides, acetoxy silane can be used to enhance strength in the isolators based on the application and manufacturer specifications.

Chapter 2: Damping in Vibration Absorbers

This chapter will discuss damping and its various types. It will also discuss vibration damping and its types.

Types of Damping

Damping is the process of eliminating or reducing unwanted oscillations or vibratory movements from a system. This can be done through critical damping, heavy damping, and light damping.

Light Damping

In light damping, the oscillations are not reduced linearly by exponentially until they reach a minimum value. An example of light damping is a child using a swing or a pendulum. As time progresses, the swing reduces in amplitude until it ceases to swing. This phenomenon is best described below with a displacement time graph as shown below.

Heavy Damping

In heavy damping, the oscillations take longer to return to the equilibrium position. Examples of heavily damped systems include doors where they return to the closing position over some time. This prevents damage that happens when the door is shut faster. Below is a graph illustrating how heavily damped systems slowly return to equilibrium over time.

Critically Damped System

In a critically damped system, the oscillator is displaced from the equilibrium,quickly returning to the equilibrium position. A common example is of a car experiencing bump roads, if the car is critically damped, the dampers will make the car return to the equilibrium position in a short period.

The graph below illustrates how a critically damped system operates with time.

Types of Vibration Damping

Vibration damping refers to the absorption of kinetic energy from vibrations such as noise, mechanical oscillations, alternating currents, etc. in order to reduce the total amount of energy being produced by a system.

Types of vibration damping include:

Unconstrained Damping

In this type of vibration damping, a pad is created and placed between the parts that are moving or causing vibrations, such as metal plates. The pad sits between the moving parts such that it conforms to the motion of the parts. As it interacts with the parts during movements, it absorbs the vibrations that are involved, which are later released slowly as bits of heat energy. This damping method is one of the simplest that can be used to damp vibrations and is very effective for material protection and damage prevention.

Constrained Damping

In constrained damping, a viscoelastic material such as Sorbothane can be used to control vibrations in the systems. It works similarly as unconstrained damping where the material is placed between the parts. The main difference is that constrained damping is used where closer attention and vibration control are required.

Tuned Viscoelastic Damping

In this type of vibration damping, more specific control measures are used to control the vibrations. Sorbothane is also used in this type of damping. It is used to eliminate ranges of certain wavelengths in a system that may create damage. The tuned viscoelastic damping is often referred to as the most effective way of putting vibrations to a certain range of frequencies.

Vibration Isolation

Vibration isolation is the process involved when machinery is separated from the main source of vibration. Sometimes the vibrations created are too high such that it is best to separate a system from such high quantities of vibrations that have the potential of great damage and create noisy environments. To separate from such vibration, devices known as vibration isolators are used. Vibration isolators are placed between the source of vibrations and the other material to be protected.

Classification of Vibration Isolation

The classifications of vibration isolation include:

Passive Vibration Isolation

Most passive vibration isolation systems comprise spring, mass, and damping material. Devices such as mechanical springs and rubber pads are used in this technique of passive control. Spring and mass are used in such a way that they create a natural frequency and in this case the damping will affect the natural frequency. During vibration, there is the transfer of energy at the natural frequency produced and the natural frequency amplification is reduced by damping.

Active Vibration Isolation

Just like many active systems, active vibration isolation comprises electronic components like circuits, feedback configurations, controllers, sensors, actuator, and spring. Usually, a processor-based actuation system is used for active isolation. Vibrations created are transferred to the control system, which is usually fed into an electromagnetic actuator and based on the controller program, the vibration will be neutralized. There is more accuracy in this isolation type than passive vibration isolation and resonance is not experienced. The image below shows a CAD model of an active vibration isolation control.

Factors to consider when installing vibration isolators include:

Size and weight of equipment to be isolated
Machine movement must be taken into consideration.
Nature of the vibrations
The vibration isolator must be selected in accordance with the operating environment.
What are the operation pressures?
Is it going to be an indoor or an outdoor isolator?
Vibration isolators must be kept away from sensitive materials (Machine location)
Location of isolators – where exactly are the isolators going to be placed in the system
The isolators should be of proper size – they should not be too big or too small, otherwise, they might not be effective.
Adjustment- the spring used must have the ability to freely travel and not be compressed excessively.

Vibration isolators are widely used in industries to protect equipment such as:

Compressors, pumps, and heavy loads
Vehicles and aviation systems and equipment
In aerospace and electron microscopes
Machinery and instruments

Leading Manufacturers and Suppliers

Chapter 3: Types of Vibration Absorbers

This chapter will discuss the various groups of vibration absorbers and the common types of vibration absorbers.

Common Types of Vibration Absorbers

Below are the common types of vibration absorbers commonly used.

Air Springs

An air spring is a sect of air confined within a fabric and rubber container usually shaped like a bellow. They were designed to provide comfortability in cars such that when moving at fast speeds the body lowers and when traveling off roads the body of the vehicle is lifted. Air springs are effective and give a favorable stroke ratio to compressed height, especially in comparison to air cylinders. They can be used in many vibration isolation applications because of their flexibility and can be used in a variety of actuation media. These media include water, air, nitrogen, etc.

Bushings

Bushings are a type of vibration isolators that provide an interface between two parts such that they absorb the vibrations between the surfaces. The bushing inserts are available in numerous metals such as stainless steel, brass, copper, bronze, or plated metal. The steel used is typically case hardened and can be applied on torsional bushings for gripping using end serrations. The outer bushing can have an outside diameter that is centerless. It is typically ground to size and press fit to fit into the receiving bore. The elastomer selection will be determined by the application’s environmental factors, such as exposure to oils, ozone exposure, and extreme cold or heat.

Below is a diagram showing the bushings principle of absorbing vibrations.

Bushings from Bushings Inc.

Cam Follower

A cam follower is a mechanical device designed to follow the motion of the camshaft. They also assist in reducing the skidding of vehicles. When the cam moves at high speeds the cam follower reduces the vibrations produced and helps detect misalignments that may occur on the camshaft.

Dashpots

Dashpots are vibration absorption materials that use fluid to create resistance. They are common in small devices and instruments. In manufacturing industries, they are widely used in precision processes.

Helical Isolators

A Helical isolator is a multidirectional wire rope structure designed to absorb shock and vibration. They are commonly used to transport sensitive and delicate materials or property in harsh weather/climatic conditions.

Rubber Pads

Rubber pads are also known as anti-vibration pads or vibration isolators are rubber materials that are used to absorb vibrations in materials by placing them between materials or moving parts. In some instances, these pads are made of ribbed patterns so that they avoid slippage of materials on their surfaces. Rubber pads can be grouped into many types based on the pattern formed and the common types include the KHL. KH, KHS, RHS, etc.

Shock Absorbers

Shock absorbers are devices used to absorb vibrations and jolts mainly and are mainly used in vehicles.

Groups of Vibration Absorbers

Vibration absorbers are grouped into two main types: passive and active vibration absorbers.

Active Vibration Absorber

Active vibration absorbers use electric power to operate. These are usually electronic components such as switches, sensors, actuators, controllers that can detect the frequencies and forces that will be acting on the system. They will in response absorb or eliminate the noise or unwanted noise based on how they were programmed to operate.

Passive Vibration Absorbers

These types of absorbers do not have active parts like switches, electrical circuits, sensors for them to operate. They are usually made of rubber mounts and mechanized springs, which are used for the absorption of energy. Passive absorbers which are made from rubber include base isolators, pads, and elastomers. Rubber pads or elastomers are most common as well as dense and cork foam. They are used to separate vibration from machines, home equipment, and vehicles. They are mainly used when there is a need for medium to high-frequency noise and vibration to be isolated from heavy machinery. Different pads are used in these passive vibration absorbers, and the typical natural frequency range is from 3 to 40 Hertz.

Chapter 4: Applications of Vibration Absorbers

Vibration absorbers come in handy and are beneficial to many mechanical systems because they prevent damage and, in most cases, minimize wear and tear on materials. Most of these absorbers are relatively cheap, so it is advised to implement vibration absorbers on equipment that encounters vibrations and shaking. Below is a list of some of the common applications of vibration absorbers.

Machine Tools

A machine tool is a machine that uses power for its operation, such as a milling machine, lathe, grinder, drilling machine, etc. to shape, drill, or finish material. These machines experience a lot of vibrations that result from the rotating and moving parts inside them, such as spindles, gears, motors, accelerometers, etc. Without proper absorption of these vibrations, the machine tool may cause accidents or damage. The diagram below shows parts of a lathe machine that experience high vibrations.

Overhead Power Transmission Lines

Overhead power transmission lines refer to electric lines which are suspended by poles or towers. These lines experience vibrations usually caused by a change in weather such as wind, storms, rain and also caused by the movement of electric charge. This sometimes can be heard as a sound and this sound comes from the discharging of energy as a result of the electric field strength on the conductors being stronger than the breakdown strength of the air that surrounds the conductor.

Engine Crankshaft Torsional Vibration

Torsional vibration in engines is an example of shaking or vibration that results from the superposition of angular oscillations and it mainly comes from the propulsion of the engine’s parts such as the gearbox, crankshaft, propeller shaft, etc. On machines that experience torsional vibration, absorbers assist in stabilizing and neutralizing the system and without them, many engines would have been uncomfortable and unfriendly to use. This is achieved by the use of vibration absorbers such as engine mounts, rubber bumpers, and transmission mounts.

Rubber Bumpers

Rubber bumpers, also known as rubber mounts, are materials that are made of rubber to absorb vibrations from machines or equipment that vibrate. They are designed to protect equipment and although they come in many shapes most of them have a circular shape with a small hole at the center. Other bumpers are made with adhesive on the other side so that when one wants to use them, they will press the side with adhesive on the machinery to attach them to that position. They are commonly used on doors usually between metals and also between the floor and the equipment or machinery. The choice of which rubber bumper to use depends on many factors such as environment to be used, type of material, the weight of equipment, durability. Some of them are made of silicon, whereas others are made of nitrile. If the environment has moisture, it's recommended to use silicon as it is resistant to water. On the other hand, nitrile bumpers are handy when used in an oily environment because they do not react with it.

Engine Mounts

Engine mounts are vibration absorbers that are used to hold the engine together. They are made of rubber because rubber absorbs impact and vibrations. They are put between metals to avoid wear and tear between them. Some engine mounts are filled with liquid inside to enhance strength and in case they wear out, the liquid will start to leak. If they start leaking, it means maintenance or replacement should be done to them.

Transmission Mount

In the same manner, the engine mount operates, the transmission mount is made to support and hold together the transmission of a car. It usually contains a metallic plate for strength to hold the transmission and a rubber bush for absorbing vibrations coming from transmission systems as it operates. The picture below shows a simple transmission mount that is used in vehicles.

Silent-Lign Pillow Blocks

These pillow blocks are a combination of an oil-resistant flexing medium of neoprene and a sleeve bearing that is constantly lubricated. This happens in a welded steel mounting bracket that is stamped and plated in a sturdy zinc trivalent. In various applications, the pillow block can:

Minimize or stop vibrations
Self-lubricate constantly
Eliminate noise transmission
Self-align
Low profile clearances

Vibro-leveler Mounts

This is a rubber in a shear mount with a dual purpose which includes suppression of noise and vibration transmission and facilitates machine precision leveling. The vibro-leveler mounts have:

Easy and quick installation
Designed with a fail safe
Environmentally friendly
Protect machinery from vibration and shock
Minimize fatigue related to vibration and noise

The vibro-levelers have a simple design and are typically rugged in construction. They have a stud attached to the inner cylinder and insulated using a mechanically bonded rubber.

Footbridge Structures

Most footbridges have slender designs meaning they are prone to damage caused by wind or human-induced vibrations and require a protective mechanism to avoid shaking or damage due to resonance. Vibration absorbers reduce these impacts in most of these footbridges.

Engine Pumps and Generators

Equipment that has rotating shafts such as pumps and generators produce vibrations that may affect the other parts of the machine or affect the base which they are placed on such as table, floors, or bases. Vibration absorbers are put in place in such equipment and reduce or eliminate these impacts that have the potential for damage.

Considerations when Selecting a Vibration Absorber

There are various considerations when selecting a vibration absorber. These include:

Size and Weight of Absorbers

Machines differ in size, if the size of the machine is big, it might require several mounts to cater for the vibrations, whereas in small machinery only a single mount might be able to absorb all the vibrations. The weight is considered and should be part of the primary information before approaching supplies.

Vibration Environment

The environment in which the absorber is going to be installed is important to understand and analyze as different materials of absorbers will react differently. For example, laboratory absorbers are different from industrial absorbers. Some absorbers are designed for indoor operations and using them while exposed to UV rays may damage their properties and reduce their efficiency. Most rubber products like rubber pads, rubber pads, rubber bumpers, etc. are not resistant chemicals and may be easily damaged.

Nature of Vibration

The nature of vibration is also important to note. Vibration magnitude and size can be analyzed in terms of frequency, amplitude, and direction of the vibrations. Devices such as the accelerometer can be used to measure the frequency of vibration and it is advisable to hire a professional who can measure and produce proper quantities of these variables. The magnitude of the amplitude will determine whether isolation is required or not. Getting the vibration’s direction will help locate the exact positions where absorbers should be placed. If the direction is not properly detected, it might not be possible to eliminate the vibrations even if the correct mounts are used.

Absorber Cost and Maintenance

Like many other mechanical systems, the systems which contain absorbers will require maintenance at some point as these components are prone to wear and tear. Shipping, site survey, and installation are other costs that may be incurred and should be taken into consideration.

Absorber Upkeep

This should answer questions like how much are the system’s maintenance costs with a certain absorber going to be? How easy is it going to be to replace a certain absorber? Will there be trained personnel to service and maintain the absorber and system as a whole?

System Flexibility

This addresses how the system is going to accommodate changes if necessary. An ideal system should be flexible enough to allow changes in the installation of the absorber. If the design of the absorber is perfect, then flexibility is not to be considered much.

Contact Surface of the Absorber

What type of services are going to be in contact with each other? By knowing this, one can design and be able to choose the right absorber for particular vibrations. Choosing an absorber without having useful information about the contact surfaces information may result in damaging the systems. The duration and lifespan of the absorber can be estimated by knowing the contact surfaces.

Lifespan of the Absorber

A combination of factors determines the lifespan of the absorbers and others have been listed above. This is related to costs involved because in many cases the higher the quality of the absorber, the stronger it is and the longer the lifespan of the absorber a proper design of the system is done.

Load on the System

The load applied onto the absorber is important and needs to be known before purchasing an absorber. Big loads are supposed to be handled by stronger absorbers and vice versa.

Conclusion

A vibration absorber is a single degree of freedom (DOF) spring-mass system that eliminates or reduces the vibration of a harmonically excited system such as the rotation of engines, motors, generators, belts, etc. to create a comfortable and safe environment. In selecting a vibration absorber for a particular use, it is critical to understand the type and application of the different vibration absorbers.

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Isolator Selection Guide – dB Engineering