Theoretical modeling and analysis of a quasi-zero-stiffness vibration isolator equipped with extensible and axially magnetized negative stiffness modules

Abstract

Quasi-zero-stiffness (QZS) isolation systems have demonstrated good performance in low-frequency vibration isolation fields. However, the existing QZS isolation systems with traditional negative stiffness elements cannot support high payloads under miniaturization and simplification. To give some beneficial insights into high loading capacity, optimized structure, and good vibration isolation performance, a novel axially magnetized negative stiffness module (MNSM) is proposed based on the concepts of modularity and expansibility. Concretely, an axially magnetized negative stiffness unit (MNSU) is designed as the fundamental building block of MNSM, and the proposed MNSM can be composed of different axially magnetized negative stiffness units (MNSUs) for diversified requirements. To effectively investigate the characteristics of the MNSU, a computationally high efficient equivalent surface current method is developed. As a result, two types of MNSUs with optimized parameters are achieved, and their design procedures are presented respectively. To verify the benefits of the MNSMs, the designed QZS isolator is theoretically modeled and solved with the average method and then verified through the Runge–Kutta method. Through analyzing the isolation systems with MNSMs under different nonlinearities and dynamic parameters, the results indicate that the proposed MNSMs can endow the QZS vibration isolator with a lower resonant frequency, a wider isolation frequency range, and a smaller transmissibility. Additionally, it is also demonstrated that there is an inverse relationship between the complexity of the MNSM structure and the sensitivity of the isolation system.