1.

Introduction

Nelson F. C., 1994 defines vibration control as the reduction of unwanted vibration in a machine
or in a structural system. Vibration isolation is the technique of controlling vibration by
interposing compact, resilient connections between the vibration source and its surrounding
structure, source isolation, or between the surrounding structure and the vibration receiver,
receiver isolation. Vibration isolation schemes are to:

 reduce the propagation of base vibration to the isolated object (machinery) and
 abate the transmission of vibration energy of machinery to the base.
 Moreover, in some industrial machines (such as mechanical presses), as well as seismic
applications, isolators are also expected to lower the impact of shock from base to
isolated object or vice-versa.

2.0 Passive vibration isolation techniques

Using passive techniques, isolation is attained by limiting the ability of vibrations to be coupled
to the item to be isolated. This is achieved by utilizing a mechanical connection which redirects
or dissipates the energy of vibration prior to it getting to the item to be isolated. Passive
techniques sometimes entail using electromechanical controls for adjusting the system, but the
isolation mechanism itself is passive.

2.1 Spring-damper Isolation

A passive vibration isolation system consists of three components: an isolated mass (payload), a
spring (K) and a damper (C) as shown in Fig. 1 and they work as a harmonic oscillator. The
payload and spring stiffness define a natural frequency of the passive vibration isolation system.
While the spring reduces floor vibrations from being transmitted to the isolated payload, the
damper eliminates the oscillation that is amplified within the vibration isolation system. In most
cases, the passive vibration isolation systems employ a pneumatic spring due to its low natural
frequency characteristic that provides outstanding vibration isolation performance and damping.

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Fig 1: Passive vibration isolation system (source: DAEIL SYSTEMS)

Metal springs have been commonly used for vibration isolation applications as they can be
designed to offer a range of stiffness properties in heavy machinery applications. Most of these
designs do not allow much flexibility with damping as most metal springs offer relatively low
material damping. Coil springs, disc springs, slotted springs, etc. are some examples of metal
springs commonly used in vibration isolation applications (Sudhir K., 2003).

2.2 Rubber isolation

Rubber bearing, also known as sandwich (or laminated/multi) rubber isolation pad, consists of
rubber and steel plane alternately. Rubber bearings are the most mature and widely used isolation
devices, as shown in Fig. 2. In order to meet the damping requirements of the isolation system,
lead plug or high damping rubber is adopted in rubber bearings (Zhao-Dong Xu et al 2017).

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Fig 2: rubber isolation (source: [Link])

3.0 Active vibration isolation techniques

Active vibration isolation systems consist of a spring, feedback, and feed-forward control
algorithm with vibration sensors and actuators. e feedback control algorithm uses sensors that
continuously measure disturbance originating from a payload, and sends signals to the actuators
to cancel out that disturbance. At the same time, the feed-forward control system uses
measurements of external vibration for controller input, remarkably reducing floor vibration.

Fig 3: Feedback & Feed-Forward Vibration Control Algorithms (source: DAEIL SYSTEMS)

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A- Stage Feed-Forward
If the isolation system has information about motorized linear stages in advance, the system can
produce the force that equal in size to the force from dynamic linear stage motions in the
opposite direction. As a result, the external force caused by the motorized linear stage is
effectively minimized.

B- Acceleration Feedback
This feedback control system employs sensors and actuators to continuously detect vibrations
which disturb the isolated payload, then reacts to minimize vibrations. The acceleration feedback
system not only reduces from the floor but also effectively minimizes vibrations from the
motorized linear stages.

C- Position Feedback
When the isolated base is disturbed by vibrations, the position feedback measures displacement
through position sensors that transmit signals into the digital controller. After receiving the
signals from the sensors, the digital controller drives actuators to return its original position,
improving the position accuracy.

D- Floor Feed-Forward
The floor feed-forward system filters the floor vibrations in a predefined way. The feed-forward
control system is utilized when there are known factors such as a force applied to the isolated
base, the data of ambient vibrations and information about equipment that needs to be isolated.
Unlike the feedback control system, the feed-forward system analyzes dynamic characteristics of
the equipment and tunes the feed-forward gains by the trial and error method to operate the
actuators.

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4. Summary

Vibration isolation is a commonly used technique for reducing or suppressing unwanted

vibrations in structures and machines. With this technique, the device or system of interest is
isolated from the source of vibration through insertion of a resilient member or isolator. There
are various types of isolators, including metal springs, rubber mounts, and pneumatic mounts
(Bingen Y. 2005). Richard L., 2014 argues that in vibration isolation systems, it is important to
have damping, to attenuate excessive vibration near resonance.

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5. References

1. Nelson, N. C., 1994. Vibration Isolation: A Review, I. Sinusoidal and Random

Excitations. Medford: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
2. Xu, Z., Guo, Y., Zhu, J. and Xu, F., n.d., 2017. Intelligent vibration control in civil
engineering structures.
3. Daeil systems, 2022. Active Vibration Isolation System. Available at:
<[Link]
[Accessed 8 January 2022.]

4. Yang, B., 2005. Stress, strain, and structural dynamics. Amsterdam: Elsevier Academic
Press.
5. Kaul, S., 2021. Modeling and Analysis of Passive Vibration Isolation Systems - 1st
Edition. [online] [Link]. Available at: <[Link]
and-analysis-of-passive-vibration-isolation-systems/kaul/978-0-12-819420-1> [Accessed
7 January 2022].
6. Leach, R., 2014. Fundamental Principles of Engineering Nanometrology Ed. 2. Elsevier
Science.