Mechanical properties and impact response of disc-spring vibration isolator combined with polyurethane pieces

This study is focused on the mechanical properties and buffer performance of the disc-spring vibration isolator combined with polyurethane (PU) pieces. Finite element model of the isolator, considering the effect of the friction, is established and then simplified by those of its isolation components. Simulation results verified by the experiment reveal that PU piece is capable of lowering the dynamic stiffness of disc springs whilst keeping their static stiffness nearly constant. A mathematical model of the isolator is also built to research the vibration isolation and buffer performance of the variable stiffness vibration isolator. Analysis results indicate that the variable stiffness vibration isolator has a better buffer performance than the constant one. And it also reveals that an optimal damping ratio for the vibration isolation system exists under the same impact force. Our findings are supposed to provide theoretical basis for the design of new combination isolators.