Inertia damper

An inertia damper is a device that counters vibration using the effects of inertia and other forces and motion. ^[1] The damper does not negate the forces but either absorbs or redirects them by other means. For example, a large and heavy suspended body may be used to absorb several short-duration large forces, and to reapply those forces as a smaller force over a longer period.

Real-world applications and devices

Inertial compensators are also used in simulators or rides, making them more realistic by creating artificial sensations of acceleration and other movement. The Disneyland ride “Star Tours: The Adventure Continues” is a fair example of this principle.

There are many types of physical devices that can act as inertia dampers:

• Stockbridge damper - absorbs resonant wave motions in wire and support cables, seen on high voltage power lines. ^[2]
• Shock absorber - motion redirected as heating of viscous oil forced through a restrictive passage ^[3]
• Inerter (mechanical networks) A mechanical analog to an electrical capacitor. ^[4]
• Rotary damper - rotary motion is dissipated as heat in a highly viscous fluid or gel. May use a smooth surface rotating cylinder and a smooth surface stationary interior wall with fluid/gel between. For more forceful motion absorption and higher surface area, a paddle wheel or toothed gear is used, with a similarly ribbed or studded stationary interior wall to more forcefully grip the fluid/gel. ^{[5] [6]}

See also

• Classical mechanics  – Description of large objects' physics
• Inertia  – Fundamental principle of classical physics
• Kinematics  – Branch of physics describing the motion of objects without considering forces
• List of moments of inertia  – Moment of inertia of diff geometric shapes

References

1. Ma, Ruisheng; Bi, Kaiming; Hao, Hong (September 2021). "Inerter-based structural vibration control: A state-of-the-art review". Engineering Structures. 243: 112655. Bibcode:2021EngSt.24312655M. doi:10.1016/j.engstruct.2021.112655.
2. Markiewicz, M. (29 November 1995), "Optimum dynamic characteristics of Stockbridge dampers for dead-end spans", Journal of Sound and Vibration, 188 (2): 243–256, Bibcode:1995JSV...188..243M, doi:10.1006/jsvi.1995.0589
3. Dixon, John C. (2008). The shock absorber handbook. Wiley-professional engineering publishing series (2. ed., repr ed.). Chichester: Wiley. ISBN   978-0-470-51020-9.
4. Chen, M.; Papageorgiou, C.; Scheibe, F.; Wang, F. C.; Smith, M. (2009). "The missing mechanical circuit element" (PDF). IEEE Circuits and Systems Magazine. 9: 10–26. doi:10.1109/MCAS.2008.931738. S2CID   3783744.
5. Lin Engineering: http://www.linengineering.com/line/contents/stepmotors/Nema17_Damper.aspx Archived 2011-05-02 at the Wayback Machine
6. Phytron: ftp://ftp.phytron.de/phytron-usa/equipment/damper/dmp-us.pdf%5B‍%5D