Effect of an impact damper on a multi-degree of freedom system

Abstract Theoretical analysis of the steady state vibrational motion of a multi-degree of freedom system equipped with an impact damper is presented. The analysis is based on the assumption that two generally distributed impacts occur in each cycle. The theory is applied to the special case of a single degree of freedom main system and the effects of various parameters are investigated. The theoretically possible modes of steady state motion with two impacts/cycle and with no impacts are predicted. The non-linear behaviour of the damper is manifested by the existence of as many as three modes of steady state motion for a given exciting frequency. The conditions leading to more or less than two impacts/cycle are predicted although the system response under such conditions is not studied. Experimental results are presented and compared with theoretical predictions.