Bistable Mechanisms 3D Printing for Mechanically Programmable Vibration Control
Ali Zolfagharian, Frédéric Demoly, Mohammad Lakhi, Bernard Rolfe, Mahdi Bodaghi
Abstract
Bistable mechanisms, characterized by their ability to maintain two distinct stable states under external stimuli, offer a versatile solution to engineering challenges, particularly in vibration suppression systems. While tuned mass dampers (TMDs) effectively mitigate vibrations at specific frequencies, their efficacy falls short across a broader spectrum. This work proposes enhanced adaptability for passive vibration reduction without dependence on complex control systems or external power sources by integrating bistable mechanisms into TMD systems. A bistable mechanism is designed based on numerical simulations and is 3D‐printed via fused filament fabrication. The bistable mechanism provides more adaptive characteristics by displacing the tuned mass on a flexible link. Following experimental testing, the optimized design for bistable mechanisms has been determined. Then, a chain of bistable mechanisms is introduced to achieve the desired displacement for carrying the TMD payload. The stroke length for the TMD vibration test has been customized to reduce system vibrations by carefully optimizing geometric configurations of bistable mechanisms.