Effect of particle shape on the efficiency of granular dampers

Abstract

Granular dampers, containers partially filled with granular material, are often applied for attenuating mechanical vibrations in a broad range of systems. However, the role of the particle shape on the performance of the damper has remained largely uncertain and is investigated here by means of particle-based simulations. It is found that, for large excitation amplitudes (collect-and-collide regime), particle shape nearly does not affect the damper's performance. For low excitation amplitudes (gas-like regime), a dependence on the average dissipated energy per cycle on the particle shape is found. In this regime, the spherical particle geometry leads to the highest damper's efficiency.