Quantitative evaluation of surface material effects on particle impact damper performance- a time domain analysis

Abstract

Although particle impact dampers (PIDs) have received much attention for their effectiveness in passive vibration reduction, the influence of impact surface material on damping performance, especially in the time-domain, remains inadequately investigated. This study examines the impact of six materials; three hard (Aluminium, Steel, Acrylic) and three soft (Rubber, Polyethylene foam, Polyurethane foam), on vibration attenuation utilizing a single-degree-of-freedom system. A verified numerical model that includes the coefficient of restitution (COR) is utilized in conjunction with experimental testing. The findings indicate that Polyurethane foam (COR = 0.36) exhibits superior damping efficacy, diminishing vibration amplitude by 52.16% and impact force by 78% in comparison to Aluminium (COR = 0.82). Rubber and PE foam provide decreases of 21.38% and 22.35%, respectively, whilst hard surfaces demonstrate negligible enhancement. The numerical model strongly correlates with experimental data, with a maximum variation of 7.14%. These findings indicate that soft, energy-absorbing materials markedly improve PID performance, providing enhanced vibration attenuation and less structural stress. The research offers a pragmatic paradigm for enhancing PID design in applications necessitating elevated damping efficiency, mechanical safety, and minimal operational noise.