Universal response of optimal granular damping devices

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates that optimal granular damping devices perform consistently regardless of particle material properties, due to inelastic collapse, which informs their robust design for harsh environments.

Contribution

It reveals the material-independence of granular dampers at optimal conditions and explains this through inelastic collapse, advancing the understanding of their fundamental behavior.

Findings

Performance is independent of particle material properties at optimal damping.

Suppression of dissipation modes does not alter the device response.

Inelastic collapse explains the universal response of granular dampers.

Abstract

Granular damping devices constitute an emerging technology for the attenuation of vibrations based on the dissipative nature of particle collisions. We show that the performance of such devices is independent of the material properties of the particles for working conditions where damping is optimal. Even the suppression of a dissipation mode (collisional or frictional) is unable to alter the response. We explain this phenomenon in terms of the inelastic collapse of granular materials. These findings provide a crucial standpoint for the design of such devices in order to achieve the desired low maintenance feature that makes particle dampers particularly suitable to harsh environments.