Transmissibility through and Wave Effects in Rubber

Abstract

Abstract Instruments and precision machine tools are now being used in increasing quantities, and often in places which are subjected to severe vibration environments. Precise and costly electronic equipment in aircraft and missiles are currently subjected to severe vibration hazards. Increasing use is now being made of intentionally produced vibrations for such purposes as a drive for a mixing sieve, for conveying, for mold shaking and for vibration and shock testing. All these environmental situations demand the development of suitable and effective vibration isolation devices. Unhappily, adequate vibration isolation is not merely a matter of interposing any kind of rubber or metal springing, because the incorrect use of such elastic materials may actually make matters worse. Our understanding of the requirements for the best type of rubber, or rubber compounding is limited and only of recent origin, but it is the purpose of this review to discuss the problems of vibration isolation and insulation, not from the point of view of mechanical vibration theory alone, but to discuss how these theories can help to decide what properties are required of the rubbers to obtain maximum protection. It is not intended to discuss the actual design of antivibration shock mountings and couplings as these have been surveyed in recent publications.