Mechanism of Optimal Targeted Energy Transfer

A novel nonlinear vibration reduction mechanism based on targeted energy transfer (TET) is proposed. Targeted energy transfer is a physical phenomenon that describes a one-way irreversible energy flow from a linear oscillator (LO) to a nonlinearizable (essentially) nonlinear auxiliary substructure, noted as nonlinear energy sink (NES). The optimal targeted energy transfer where NES is set on the optimal state is investigated in this study. Complexification-averaging methodology is used to derive the optimal TET of the undamped system for different initial conditions. It is revealed that the optimal TET is dependent on the energy, indicating that passive control of NES cannot be optimally set for arbitrary initial conditions. In addition, it is found that for the undamped system, the optimal phrase difference between the linear primary oscillator and the nonlinear attachment is π/2. From the perspective of active control, the NES can be taken as an actuator to keep the system vibrating on the optimal TET. An available modification form of the optimal equations is proposed for the impulse excitation with relatively small damping. The comparisons of the effectiveness of the optimal TET is validated by using numerical simulations with the excitations including impulse, harmonic, to input with sufficient bandwidth, and random signal. The design procedure would pave the way for practical implications of TET in active vibration control.