Inerter-like devices used for vibration isolation: A historical perspective

Recently, a lot of attention has been given to a mechanical device known as the inerter. It is a mechanical component that can be compared to a capacitor with two ungrounded terminals in the mechanical-electrical systems analogy. In this paper, it is shown that although the concept of an inerter as a separate mechanical element is relatively new, there are several well-established vibration isolation systems that exhibit similar behavior to a simple lumped parameter system containing an inerter. Through a review of the literature, a link is established between the old and new ideas. Furthermore, a comparison between the systems is carried out using the quantities of mechanical impedance and displacement transmissibility. The advantages and disadvantages of using the inerter in vibration isolation are discussed, and a simple way of improving the high-frequency performance without severely degrading the low-frequency performance is described. (C) 2020 The Franklin Institute. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

The paper discusses the inerter as a new mechanical element for vibration isolation, highlighting its advantages in improving high-frequency performance compared to traditional isolation systems. It establishes a connection between old and new ideas, and thoroughly examines the application of the inerter in mechanical systems.