Assessing the Dissipative Capacity of Particle Impact Dampers Based on Nonlinear Bandwidth Characteristics

The dissipative capacity as quantified by the nonlinear bandwidth measure of impulsively loaded linear primary resonators or primary structures (PSs) coupled to particle impact dampers (PIDs) is assessed. The considered PIDs are designed by initially placing different numbers of spherical, linearly viscoelastic granules at various 2D initial topologies and clearances. The strongly nonlinear and highly discontinuous dynamics of the PIDs are simulated via the discrete element method taking Hertzian interactions, slipping friction caused by granular rotations into account. An extended definition of nonlinear bandwidth is used to evaluate the energy dissipation capacity of the integrated PS-PID systems. To this end, the time-bandwidth (T-B) product is defined by nonlinear bandwidth in tandem with characteristic time. The T-B product is studied as a measure of the capacity of these systems to store or dissipate vibration energy. It is found that the initial topologies of the granules in the PID drastically affect the T-B product, which, depending on shock intensity, may break the classical limit of unity of linear time-invariant dissipative resonators. The optimal PS-PID systems composed of multiple granules produce large nonlinear bandwidths, indicating strong dissipative capacity of broadband input energy by the PIDs. Moreover, the granular collect-and-collide regime yields high nonlinear bandwidth and efficient energy dissipation capacity, whereas the opposite is observed for the granular gaseous state regime. The relationship between energy dissipation by the PID and nonlinear bandwidth of the PS are discussed, and it is found that as the shock intensity increases these two measures tend to vary similarly. The implications of these findings on the study of the dissipative capacity of the PS-PID system are discussed, yielding a predictive methodology for designing PIDs to act as highly effective nonlinear energy sinks capable of rapid and efficient suppression of vibration induced by shocks.