Suppression of limit cycle oscillations in a van der Pol oscillator by means of a passive nonlinear energy sink

We present a study of passive but efficient vibration control, wherein a so-called nonlinear energy sink (NES) completely eliminates the limit cycle oscillations (LCOs) of a van der Pol oscillator. We first perform a parameter study in order to get overall understanding of responses with respect to parameters. Then, we establish a slow flow dynamics model to perform analytical study of the suppression mechanism which corresponds to classical nonlinear energy pumping, i.e., passive, broadband, and targeted energy transfer through 1:1 resonance capture. Utilizing the method of numerical continuation of equilibrium, we also study the bifurcation of the steady state solutions. It turns out that the system may have either subcritical or supercritical LCOs, and that for some parameter domain the LCOs are completely eliminated. This suggests applicability of the NES to vibration control in self-excited systems.