Base Excitation Rig - Demonstration of Vibration Isolation

A Brief Synopsis

As the end project of ME-360, Experimentation, each team was tasked to design and fabricate an apparatus exhibiting a scientific principle. Along with 2 mechanical engineering students, I desigined an expeirmental rig demonstrating the principle of vibration isolation during base excitation. Vibration suppression for a mechanical system can be achieved at the source or the receiver; however, vibration isolation, which uses a combination of springs and dampers to isolate the mass from input vibration, is the preferred technique. The significance of vibration isolation lies in its ability to improve the performance, reliability, and safety of structural and mechanical systems, as well as to reduce the transmission of noise and vibrations. The rig consisted of an arduino controlled stepper motor to incite excitation at the base which transmitted to a primary mass - lumped steel plates- on the other side of the spring.

Rig In Action

Click here to see the rig in action.

Academic Paper for Design, Fabrication, and Results of the Rig

The entire document can be found here