Vibration Isolation of a Cantilever Beam Using Fluidic Flexible Matrix Composite Tubes

Fluidic Flexible Matrix Composite (F²MC) tubes are a new class of high-authority and low-weight fluidic devices that can passively provide vibration damping, absorption, and isolation. In this paper, transverse cantilever beam vibration causes strain-induced fluid pumping in F²MC tubes bonded to the beam surface, generating flow through a fluidic circuit. The F²MC tubes and fluidic circuit are designed to significantly reduce moment and shear transmission at the root of the cantilever beam. An analytical model of a cantilever beam with F²MC tubes is used to perform a parametric study via Monte Carlo methods. An isolator is designed that simultaneously attenuates root shear and moment transmission by over 99% at the first bending mode. By modifying the fluidic circuit dimensions and F²MC tube attachment locations, over 99% root shear and moment transmission attenuation is achieved for the second beam bending mode. The tunability and pumping efficiency of the F²MC tube makes it a promising candidate for passive vibration control applications, including aerospace structures such as wings and rotorcraft landing gear.