Reduction of torsional vibrations of drivetrains of machines and plants using impulsive torques and characterization of related energy transfer effects

Abstract

The reduction of torsional vibrations of drivetrains of machines and plants is of considerable interest in various fields of engineering, as they can have a negative influence not only on the drivetrain itself, but also on the driven machinery. Hence, a variety of countermeasures were developed to minimize such vibrations. In the present contribution, the possibilities of reducing torsional vibrations of drivetrains by introducing impulsive torques are investigated. The impulsive strength is chosen in a way that fully elastic impacts of a point mass with a rigid wall are mimicked, i.e., energy is neither fed to nor extracted from the mechanical system by the impulses. It is shown that therewith a transfer of vibration energy to higher modes is possible, where it is dissipated more effectively utilizing the enhanced damping capabilities of higher modes. A modal damping amplification factor is introduced allowing to characterize the energy transfer based on a mapping of the state-vector from one instant of time where an impulse is applied, to the next. It is demonstrated with a numerical example that the damping amplification factor allows to analyze modal energy transfer effects in mechanical systems exhibited to impulsive torques in an efficient manner.