Which Vibration Damper is Right for Your Needs?

Vibration damping is an important part of building machines or working factories. When you're talking about situations in which there are lots of moving parts and lots of friction, you definitely need to be able to control vibrations. Excess vibrations can create unnecessary noise, break a machine's moving parts down more quickly, or even cause the machine to come apart of stop working sooner rather than later.

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There are many different ways to control vibration. One is to simply absorb it. This is a process known as vibration damping. Through the years, many different substances have evolved that can help to absorb and damp vibration from a variety of sources. Here are several options still available today:

• Oil: This age-old substance is used to take some of the vibration out of a system by absorbing it. It can't isolate vibrations, but it can keep the overall vibration of the system a bit lower. It's easy to use, and it can be good for very limited applications, especially those in which friction is the main problem.
• Springs: These aren't a true vibration damper, but they can help isolate vibration in a system. They basically absorb energy in one way and release it in another, making vibration easier to control. Before you try springs, though, consider that they have limited applications and may actually break down over time.
• Rubber: This was really the next step up from springs. It also absorbs energy and releases it in a different format, so it can isolate vibration. It can damp vibration a little, but it really just works to isolate it and doesn't have true damping abilities.
• Polyurethane: Newer substances like foam and foam-like polyurethane can be used to absorb some of the energy in a system. They are sometimes used for isolation, but they can also be used in order to damp the amount of vibration and energy in an entire system.
• Sorbothane: This proprietary viscoelastic substance combines the properties of some of the older vibration dampers and adds a few new properties of its own. It absorbs energy, but it can also release it. Because of this, it can be used for isolation or damping purposes.

As a vibration damper, Sorbothane is top of the line and uses the absolute latest technology. Besides performing the roles of many previous dampers, it also lasts longer and is more versatile. This flexible substance can be formed into any number of pads, tiles, and other types of items that can be fitted into your machine or factory in a variety of ways. It's been used in applications as various as steadying camera mounts and making running shoes healthier for the runner.

This substance is clearly the winner for most vibration damping needs. It can be used in engines or in larger systems, such as HVAC systems. It's so versatile and lasts so long that engineers enjoy working with it.

Want to learn more about Sorbothane's vibration damping solutions? Contact us to learn more or request a quote.

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Vibration is the periodic back and forth motion of the particles of an elastic body or medium. It usually arises when a physical system is displaced from its equilibrium condition and allowed to respond to the forces that tend to restore equilibrium.

The motion may be periodic, as in the motion of a struck pendulum. Or the motion can be completely random, such as the movement of a tire rolling along a rough road.

As defined in physics, vibration is the oscillating, reciprocating, or other periodic motion of a rigid or elastic body or medium forced from a position or state of equilibrium.

In some cases, vibrations can be advantageous'as with the reed in a woodwind musical instrument or in a vibratory parts hopper that dispenses discrete items from a funneled drum. But in many cases vibration is destructive. It can waste energy and create imbalances, friction, and failure in mechanical devices.

Vibration and sound studies are closely associated. Sound waves are generated by vibrating structures. These pressure waves also induce the vibration of structures or systems. Attempts to reduce unwanted noise are generally related to issues of vibration.

Types of Vibration

Free Vibrations

Free vibrations occur when a system is momentarily disturbed and free to move without restraint.

Consider a classic example such as when a weight is suspended from a spring. In equilibrium, the system has minimum energy and the weight is at rest. In contrast, if an external force pulls the weight down and releases it, the system will respond by vibrating vertically.

Consider another example of a child pulling back on a swing and letting go. The mechanical system vibrates at one or more of its natural frequencies and eventually damps down to motionlessness.

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Forced Vibration 

Forced vibration is when energy is added to a mechanical system'as in a system that is continuously driven by an external agency.

The periodic input can be a harmonic or a non-harmonic disturbance. A simple example is a child's swing that is pushed on each downswing. Of special interest are systems undergoing simple harmonic motion and driven by sinusoidal forcing.

This causes the phenomenon of resonance. Resonance occurs when the driving frequency approaches the natural frequency of free vibrations. The result is a rapid take-up of energy by the vibrating system, with an attendant growth of the vibration amplitude.

Damped V

ibration

Damped vibration is the depletion of energy. When a vibrating system is damped there is energy loss.

Depending on the motion inputs and the application's modes of vibration, damping can be through dry-friction interfaces, mechanical devices, and arrangements that use viscous damping, and the integration of elastomeric engineered materials.

Viscoelastic materials damp vibration through a mechanism known as hysteretic damping. As these materials are distorted, internal friction causes energy loss.

Damping vibrations help manufacturers minimize equipment downtime and boost system efficiencies.

Vibration Damping for Machinery

Vibration damping can happen through proper implementation of viscoelastic components. When vibrations are damped, they are removed from the system in a couple of ways. They can be absorbed into materials that release vibration energy as small amounts of heat energy, or they can be changed to different frequencies that don't resonate with the parts of the machine.

Viscoelastic materials are often used for vibration damping. Here are a few of the most common uses.

Unconstrained Damping

A pad of viscoelastic material is created for moving parts of the machine. The pad sits between the parts that are causing excess vibrations.

As the parts move, it conforms to the movement to absorb some of the vibration energy. It then stores that energy and releases it as heat energy. This removes vibration from the system and keeps the machine from breaking down or making too much noise. Unconstrained damping is by far the simplest way to address vibration in machinery.

Click here to download the Sorbothane Engineering Design Guide.

Constrained Damping

In this type of vibration damping, the viscoelastic damping material is lined with a thin piece of flexible metal. It works similarly to unconstrained damping, but it can be more efficient.

Constrained damping in this may be used for machines that need close control of vibrations.

Tuned Viscoelastic Damping

Directed damping, designed to keep specific wavelengths of vibrations out of a system. This is often because of the need to keep resonant frequencies from causing serious damage to machinery or motors.

The Difference Between a Vibration Isolator and a Vibration Damper

Damping vibration is the dissipation of energy. Isolating vibration is the prevention of vibration transmission.

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