Theoretical modeling and experimental test for dynamic characteristics of an air-spring vibration isolation system

Foundation vibrations can seriously affect the working accuracy of precision instruments. As such, air-springs are widely used as vibration isolation elements in mechanical equipment. In this study, the dynamic characteristics of a double-chamber air-spring vibration isolation system were analyzed by combining theoretical modeling and experimental tests. First, a theoretical model of the dynamic stiffness and damping of a single air-spring was established based on the relevant theories of kinematics, gas dynamics, and thermodynamics, and the relationship equations between the structural parameters of the air-spring system and the dynamic stiffness and damping were obtained. On this basis, a theoretical model of the vibration transmission rate of the air-spring isolation system was established. Then, the dynamic characteristics of the air-spring vibration isolation system were tested experimentally. It was found that the system characteristics obtained from the theoretical model were consistent with the trend of the experimental results, but there were some differences in the values. Finally, the theoretical model was modified by the least squares method, and the modified theoretical model could accurately express the dynamic performance of the air-spring vibration isolation system. This paper establishes an accurate theoretical model of the vibration transmission rate of the air-spring vibration isolation system, and uses a combination of theoretical analysis and experimental tests to analyze the influence of key parameters on the vibration isolation effect of the system. This paper is useful for the design of air-spring vibration isolation systems, the adjustment of key parameters of vibration isolation systems, and the stable use of vibration isolation systems.