Vibratory response of a sandwich link in a high speed mechanism

Abstract This paper presents a methodology for analysis of the dynamic response of linkages with flexible members featuring constrained-layer viscoelastic damping materials. The objective of this work is to develop and to evaluate, by analysis and numerical simulation, a simple and efficient method to predict the attenuation in the vibratory response of flexible member in a high speed mechanism. An applied damping treatments is used by reconstracting one link in a sandwich form. The relative importance of this type of damping is made clear through the shear strain in the composite according to Mead and Markus model. Coupled nonlinear governing partial differential equations have been derived for transverse and longitudinal vibrations of a sandwich link in a planar mechanism operating at high speeds. The derived equations of motion were transformed into ordinary differential equations by the using of the Kantorovich method and the method of weighted residuals. To verify the attenuation in the vibratory response according to the presented model, a case study of a four bar mechanism was chosen in which only sandwich coupler was considered. The numerical results show that the presented method is efficient, offering a practical treatment to control the vibratory response in high speed mechanisms.