Spectral analysis of absorption characteristics of particulate dampers to mitigate building vibration

Abstract

Particulate medium can act as efficient damper for building internal and external vibrations. Mechanical properties of the particulate material, their shape and size distributions determine the vibration absorption characteristics of these dampers. It has been shown that an unconsolidated particulate damper act as a bandpass filter for vibration frequencies of mechanical vibrations transmitted through them. The particulate dampers can also have frequency bandgap structure, where transmitted mechanical vibration of a particular frequency is strongly attenuated by absorption and scattering. The samples of non-consolidated uniform fused-silica spherical particulates are subjected to mechanical vibrations of different frequencies and intensities to determine their absorption characteristics as a function of frequency, intensity, and direction of propagation. The effects of a particulate diameter and layer thickness on absorption characteristics are determined experimentally, at low and at high frequency ranges encountered in building vibration. The goal of this investigation is to find the required absorption characteristics for particulate damper for applications to mitigate building vibration.