In the field of seismic protection of structures, it is crucial to be able to diminish 'as much as possible' and dissipate 'as fast as possible' the load induced by seismic (vibration-shock) energy imparted to a structure by an earthquake. In this context, the concept of passive nonlinear energy pumping appears to be natural for application to seismic mitigation. Hence, the overall problem discussed in this paper can be formulated as follows: Design a set of nonlinear energy sinks (NESs) that are locally attached to a main structure, with the purpose of passively absorbing a significant part of the applied seismic energy, locally confining it and then dissipating it in the smallest possible time. Alternatively, the overall goal will be to demonstrate that it is feasible to passively divert the applied seismic energy from the main structure (to be protected) to a set of preferential nonlinear substructures (the set of NESs), where this energy is locally dissipated at a time scale fast enough to be of practical use for seismic mitigation. It is the aim of this work to show that the concept of nonlinear energy pumping is feasible for seismic mitigation. We consider a two degree-of-freedom (DOF) primary linear system (the structure to be protected) and study seismic-induced vibration control through the use of Vibro-Impact NESs (VI NESs). Also, we account for the possibility of attaching to the primary structure additional alternative NES configurations possessing essential but smooth nonlinearities (e.g., with no discontinuities). We study the performance of the NESs through a set of evaluation criteria. The damped nonlinear transitions that occur during the operation of the VI NESs are then studied by superimposing wavelet spectra of the nonlinear responses to appropriately defined frequency -energy plots (FEPs) of branches of periodic orbits of underlying Conservative systems.

No abstract

We study complex damped and undamped dynamics and targeted energy transfers (TETs) in systems of coupled oscillators, consisting of single-degree-of-freedom primary linear oscillators (LOs) with vibroimpact attachments, acting, in essence, as vibro-impact nonlinear energy sinks (VI NESs). First, the complicated dynamics of such VI systems is demonstrated by computing the VI periodic orbits of underlying Hamiltonian systems and depicting them in appropriate frequency-energy plots (FEPs). Then, VI damped transitions and distinct ways of passive TETs from the linear oscillators to the VI attachments for various parameter ranges and initial conditions are investigated. As in the case of smooth stiffness nonlinearity [Y. Lee, G.

This review paper discusses recent efforts to passively move unwanted energy from a primary structure to a local essentially non-linear attachment (termed a non-linear energy sink) by utilizing targeted energy transfer (TET) (or non-linear energy pumping). First, fundamental theoretical aspects of TET will be discussed, including the essentially non-linear governing dynamical mechanisms for TET. Then, results of experimental studies that validate the TET phenomenon will be presented. Finally, some current engineering applications of TET will be discussed. The concept of TET may be regarded as contrary to current common engineering practise, which generally views non-linearities in engineering systems as either unwanted or, at most, as small perturbations of linear behaviour. Essentially non-linear stiffness elements are intentionally introduced in the design that give rise to new dynamical phenomena that are very beneficial to the design objectives and have no counterparts in linear theory. Care, of course, is taken to avoid some of the unwanted dynamic effects that such elements may introduce, such as chaotic responses or other responses that are contrary to the design objectives.

No abstract