An open-access database for the assessment of particle damper simulation tools

A particle damper (PD) is an enclosure partially filled with small particles that can help to dampen the vibration of a structure. Despite its simplicity, the reliable prediction of the behavior of such a device in arbitrary operative conditions appears to be very difficult due to the complex non-linear interactions between the particles and the system. An experimental methodology is defined with the aim of minimizing the bias due to the PD non-linear response. The effect of the mutual orientation of motion, gravity, and enclosure and of different disturbance inputs on the performance of a PD is investigated in order to make available a set of reference experimental results for correlation purposes with prediction tools. An open-access database, gathering all the test results, is made available.