Lightweight Periodic Vibration Isolator Design via Compliant Inertial Amplification Mechanisms with Stiffness Maximized Topologies

As a novel innovative approach in the literature, periodic structures can be utilized as vibration isolators. In this paper, vibration isolation performance of a lightweight periodic structure is studied. The periodic structure is formed by using inertial amplification mechanisms with stiffness maximized topologies. First of all, inertial amplification concept is introduced on a lumped parameter model. Then, a compliant inertial amplification mechanism, which is the repetitive building block of the periodic structure (i.e., unit cell), is presented. Topology optimization is conducted on this mechanism to attain a stiffness maximized unit cell with reduced weight. After that, a one-dimensional periodic structure is constructed by attaching the lightweight inertial amplification unit cells with stiffness maximized topologies to each other. Finally, vibration isolation performance of the constructed periodic structure is demonstrated via transmissibility plots. It is observed that the designed topologically optimized lightweight periodic structure provides high performance vibration isolation for a wider frequency range with the same stiffness value and less weight, compared to the original structure.