Damper Force Characteristics of a Separated Dual-Chamber Single-Rod Type Damper Utilizing an Elastomer Particle Assemblage in the Case of Both Chambers Containing Particles

Abstract Particle dampers that use soft/hard particles are attracting attention as a solution to problems such as oil leakage of oil dampers and the temperature dependence of their characteristics. Particle dampers effectively attenuate vibration using the friction and inelastic normal collisions generated between particles or between particles and walls. Here, the effects of the packing fraction of particles, the vibration frequency, and hardness of the material on the damper force characteristics of a separated dual-chamber single-rod type damper with elastomer particle assemblages were investigated experimentally. The maximal damper force and its hysteresis increased with the packing fraction, the vibration frequency, and the Young’s modulus of the particle material. Numerical simulations using the discrete element method (DEM) were performed to confirm the behavior of the elastomer particles when they were packed in both chambers. The compressive force distribution and velocity vector diagram of particles in the simulations showed that friction and compression between particles due to particle movement, friction between particles and the chamber walls, and the viscosity of the elastomer particles caused a large hysteresis in the damper force. The maximum damper force is affected by the viscoelastic component force and the friction force in the same proportion, and the hysteresis is dominated by the friction force. The simulation results were confirmed to be in good agreement, both qualitatively and quantitatively, with the experimentally measured damper force characteristics.