Experimental analysis of inerter-based suspension systems for slender structures

Abstract

Earthquakes and ambient vibrations can cause serious problems for cultural heritage objects; consequently, preserving these objects against mentioned sources of vibration has received more attention in recent years. To address this problem, in this paper, inerter is used to overcome the deficiency of a vibration isolator in the lower frequency range and performance of this passive device is evaluated experimentally. Specifically, first, the scaled model of an actual isolator and statue is presented. This structure has been designed and manufactured based on the results of a performance test, which has been performed on a famous statue of Michelangelo Buonarroti: Pieta Rondanini. In order to improve the performance of the isolator, a ball-screw type inerter has been designed and manufactured in this research. This device is introduced to the scaled structure and its effect on the dynamic behavior of the isolator is checked using a sine sweep vibration test. The experimental tests were performed on a shaking table in the horizontal direction. Then, the effectiveness of inerters on the dynamic behavior of the isolation system is demonstrated. It is shown that the isolator equipped with the manufactured inerters has better performance in the lower frequency range.