Experimental investigation of a non-smooth quasi-zero-stiffness isolator

Compared with traditional quasi-zero-stiffness (QZS) isolators, the QZS isolator with displacement constraints can theoretically display a lower transmissibility peak value and a wider isolation-frequency range. Nevertheless, there is no relevant experiment to prove the correctness of this theoretical result at present. In this paper, an experimental structure is built and corresponding dynamic experiments are conducted to explore the isolation characteristics of the QZS structure with displacement constraints during application. Initially, according to Hertz's contact model, the theoretical framework of a QZS structure with displacement constraints (QZS-HCM) gets developed. Then, the QZS-HCM system is physically realized through the manufacturing and assembly of the structure. The experiments about the force-displacement relationships are conducted to validate the theoretical conclusions. Further, the dynamic experiments about the QZS-HCM system are performed to assess the isolation characteristics by investigating the displacement transmissibility and time history. Compared the experimental results of the traditional QZS structure with those of the QZS-HCM structure, it is observed that the QZS-HCM isolator can demonstrate a lower response peak and achieve a wider isolation-frequency range under the large-amplitude excitation.

Automated summary

Compared with traditional quasi-zero-stiffness (QZS) isolators, the QZS isolator with displacement constraints theoretically demonstrates lower transmissibility peak value and wider isolation-frequency range. This study builds an experimental structure and conducts dynamic experiments to explore the isolation characteristics of the QZS structure with displacement constraints. The theoretical framework of a QZS structure with displacement constraints (QZS-HCM) is developed based on Hertz's contact model, and the physical realization of the QZS-HCM system is achieved through manufacturing and assembly of the structure. Experimental validation and analysis reveal that the QZS-HCM isolator exhibits lower response peak and wider isolation-frequency range under large-amplitude excitation when compared with traditional QZS isolators.