Design of a device for vibration control exploring particle damping

• Grant number: 25/15263-4
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: November 01, 2025
• End date: October 31, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Mechanical Engineering - Mechanics of Solids
• Principal Investigator: Paulo José Paupitz Gonçalves
• Grantee: Felipe Gabriel Ferraz Corrêa
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Engenharia (FE). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Bauru. Bauru , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Undesired vibrations in structures and mechanical components represent a significant source of fatigue failures, performance degradation, and operational discomfort. Therefore, the control of these vibrations is an area of great relevance in modern engineering. Among the various available techniques, passive vibration control methods stand out due to their simplicity, inherent stability, and independence from external energy sources. In this context, particle damping emerges as a promising passive technique, especially effective in harsh environments where traditional dampers face performance limitations or operational failures. This approach is based on the dissipation of vibrational energy through inelastic collisions and friction between granular particles contained within cavities strategically coupled to the vibrating system. The present project aims to investigate and develop a virtual prototype of a particle damper for vibration attenuation in a specific body. The adopted methodology will include an in-depth literature review on particle damping and vibro-impact dynamics, as well as the development of numerical models based on computational simulations using the ANSYS suite, particularly the Rocky software. The modeling will be based on the Discrete Element Method (DEM) to represent the dynamic behavior of the granular particles, with possible coupling to the Finite Element Method (FEM) to simulate the interaction between the particles and the host structure. Energy dissipation mechanisms will be analyzed, and the effects of different design parameters on damping effectiveness will be investigated, such as particle material properties, size, filling ratio, and compartment geometry. The study will also seek to understand the behavior of these design parameters with the objective of maximizing the damper's efficiency in reducing vibrations of the primary structure.