Performance analysis of a nonlinear inerter-based vibration isolator with inerter embedded in a linkage mechanism

This study presents an inerter-based nonlinear vibration isolator with geometrical nonlinearity created by configuring an inerter in a diamond-shaped linkage mechanism. The isolation performance of the proposed nonlinear isolator subjected to force or base-motion excitations is investigated. Both analytical and alternating frequency-time harmonic balance methods as well as numerical integration method are used to obtain the dynamic response. Beneficial performance of the nonlinear isolator is demonstrated by various performance indices including the force and displacement transmissibility as well as power flow variables. It is found that the use of the nonlinear inerter in the isolator can shift and bend the peaks of the transmissibility and time-averaged power flow to the low-frequency range, creating a larger frequency band of effective vibration isolation. It is also shown that the inertance-to-mass ratio and the initial distance of the nonlinear inerter can be effectively tailored to achieve reduced transmissibility and power transmission at interested frequencies. Anti-resonant peaks appear at specific frequency, creating near-zero energy transmission and significantly reducing vibration transmission to a base structure on which the proposed isolator is mounted.