Enhanced vibration isolation performance of quasi-zero-stiffness isolator by introducing tunable nonlinear inerter (Q2219589)

The aim of the study consists in a comprehensive investigation of an SDOF dynamic nonlinear system, which models behavior of a vibration damping device intended for seismic response mitigation. The device analyzed is called in literature ``Quasi-Zero-Stiffness'' (QZS) vibration isolator. It emerged some two decades ago. Its purpose is to improve the low-frequency isolation performance due to a passive vibration absorber. Despite of its doubtless effectivity, its unpleasant shortcoming lies in a limited usability in conditions of broadband excitation of a random type. This property greatly reduces the effective isolation domain. Therefore, the authors focus on enhancing the QZS isolator by introducing Tunable Nonlinear Inerter (TNI). The TNI consists in complement of a pair of additional masses making inertia properties of the element strongly nonlinear. Position of these masses is adjustable and, therefore, the TNI can be adopted to conditions of particular application. Geometry of the system results in nonlinear total damping, although linear conventional dampers are used. Finally, the ordinary differential equation representing the TNI behavior includes Duffing and van der Pol terms and, consequently, shows relevant phenomena well-known from similar systems examined in nonlinear dynamics. From physical and also engineering point of view, the TNI system being strongly nonlinear proves much more effective in wider frequency range than the QZS element, as it is usual when comparing linear and the corresponding nonlinear system. The main idea of the added masses influence consists in a fine tuning of pre-stress at the static position in horizontal and vertical directions in order to achieve the zero linear part of the total stiffness in the vertical direction. In such a case, the Duffing's type of stiffness loses the linear part resulting in the zero effective stiffness in the origin, which leads to wide broadening of the damping effect on the frequency axis. Take a note that this principle could be applicable also outside its original application. In particular, its rotating version could be developed together with a possible application in mechanical engineering. Furthermore, various possibilities of hydro-dynamic applications are obvious, as well as employment in micro-mechanics can be envisaged. Concerning the core of the paper itself, a comprehensive study of local stability has been performed. In particular bifurcation points (primary and secondary) have been detected and their neighborhood carefully investigated. Several transition cases have been examined as well including a transition into a limit case of homo-clinic orbits, although some mathematical gaps remained concerning the transition process. It applies also to the orbit itself and its neighborhood. However, such details can be let to be described in forthcoming independent studies. So that, the authors are encouraged to present some additional papers being focused to analytical investigation of bifurcation types (local, global), limit cycle types and especially their interaction during strong external impacts (possibility of energy breaking through, may be also of avalanche type, etc.). In general the paper represents a nice qualitative analysis of a strongly nonlinear system. It is worthy to be followed by readers involved not only in the nonlinear dynamics, but also in related theoretical and engineering branches.