Granular Ball Tuned Mass Damper for Horizontal Pole Vibration
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vibration dampening solutions for light poles and similar structures are inadequate in effectively addressing vibrations in a simple, robust, and practical manner, particularly when road or wind excitations occur near the natural frequencies of the structures, leading to fatigue failures.
Innovation Solution
A spherical ball filled partially with granular material translates on a curved surface within a housing, providing both mass and damping through friction and impact as the granular material tumbles, acting as a tuned mass damper to dissipate energy effectively.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If granular material is placed directly into the chamber, then energy dissipation is achieved through impact and friction, but the device complexity increases and effectiveness is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies nesting by placing a spherical container filled with granular material inside the dampener chamber. The sphere itself acts as a moving mass element, while the granular material inside provides additional damping through internal friction and impact. This nested configuration combines mass damper and granular damping mechanisms in a compact, integrated structure that reduces overall device complexity while enhancing energy dissipation effectiveness.
2Loss of energy
If a mass damper approach is used with a ball or weight, then energy dissipation is achieved, but the damping effectiveness is limited to impact only
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a composite damping system combining a solid spherical mass with granular material filling. The sphere provides mass-based damping through its movement on the curved surface, while the granular material inside the sphere contributes frictional and impact damping. This composite approach multiplies the damping mechanisms, significantly enhancing overall damping effectiveness and reliability compared to using a simple solid ball.
3Loss of energy
If the granular material is used for damping, then energy dissipation is achieved through friction and impact, but the solution is not integrated into a tuned mass damper system
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal dampener design where the spherical mass containing granular material can be tuned to different frequencies by adjusting the sphere's mass, the granular material properties, and the curved surface geometry. This multi-functional design allows the same basic structure to effectively dampen vibrations in various pole types and configurations, enhancing adaptability and versatility across different applications.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This configuration effectively attenuates vibrations by converting kinetic energy into potential energy through friction and impact, reducing the risk of fatigue failures in light poles and similar structures by providing robust and practical vibration dampening.
Implementation Method 1
the translating mass is both the shell of the ball and the granular material inside of the ball. Accordingly, the damping is achieved through friction and impact as the granular material tumbles within the ball
Implementation Method 2
the translating mass is both the shell of the ball and the granular material inside of the ball. Accordingly, the damping is achieved through friction and impact as the granular material tumbles within the ball
Implementation Method 3
the curved surface of the present invention preferably provides an effective stiffness or restoring force that enacts the frequency tuning of the tuned mass damper
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides a method and apparatus for energy absorption and vibrational dampening in a horizontal plane. According to a first preferred embodiment, the present invention discloses an apparatus for damping vibration of a pole which includes a housing with a horizontal floor having an inward curved surface for achieving vibration attenuation at a middle portion thereof to form an enclosed chamber. According to a further aspect of the first embodiment, at least one damping weight is preferably disposed in the inward curved surface and is preferably substantially spherical in shape. According to a further preferred embodiment, at least one dampening weight of the present may preferably include a hollow, inner cavity. According to further aspects of the present invention, the dampening weight preferably may further include a granular material located within the inner cavity.