Vibration isolators using nonlinear spring characteristics of origami-based foldable structures

Abstract

In this paper, a new vibration isolator using origami-based foldable structures is proposed and numerical simulation is performed to evaluate the performance of the isolator to prevent structural vibration. It has been known that the origami-based foldable structures using Kresling's pattern have bistability. However, that is true only if the bar elements which the structure comprises are uniformly distorted in order that the structure is symmetrically folded. To realize the bistability of the structure, we propose to apply additional linear springs to the original structure. In the first design, linear springs are applied, connecting diagonal nodes of the bar elements. In the second design, they are applied along to the axial direction of the structure. It is confirmed by numerical simulation that these designs successfully provide the bistable folding behavior and therefore, the structure with additional linear springs can work as a vibration isolator around the region that the total spring stiffness of the whole structure reaches the relative minimum value that is close to zero.

Keywords

• vibration isolation
• vibration control
• nonlinearlity
• bistability
• structural analysis
• structural design
• numerical simulation
• origami engineering