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CHAPTER 3
DYNAMIC VIBRATION ABSORBER (DVA) THEORY
3.1 Introduction
Dynamic vibration absorbers (DVA)also known as anti-vibrators, vibration neutralizers,
and dynamic, tuned, shock, and vibration absorbers or dampersare auxiliary mechanical
systems attached to vibrating systems, whereby the motion of the (primary) vibration systems is
reduced. They consist, in their simplest form, of a mass connected to the primary system by a
spring and/or a damping element, such as a viscous, hysteric, or friction element. Since their
firstpatent1 at the beginning of the twentieth century with a prehistory of reducing ship rolling
motion at the end of the ninetieth century, they have been extensively used for various
engineering applications: To reduce wind-induced vibration in power transmission lines, towers,
and skyscrapers, to reduce earthquake induced bridge and building vibration, and to reduce
pedestrian-induced walking bridges vibration. They are, moreover, applied to improve machine
tool precision and to reduce helicopter rotor vibration and engine vibration in high-performance
automotive racing cars and in light aircraft.
The DVA has certain advantages over other methods of vibration suppression. It is
external to the machine structure, so no re-installation of equipment is necessary. Unlike with
structural modifications, when the final effect is unknown until mass-elastic properties of the
machine components have been modified, a DVA can be designed and tested before
installation. It can be adjusted in the lab environment with predictable field results.

3.2 History and Principle of Operation
The dynamic vibration absorber was invented in 1909 by Hermann Frahm
(US Patent #989958, issued in1911), and since then it has been successfully used to suppress
wind-induced vibration and seismic response in buildings. Characteristics of DVA were studied
in depth by Den Hartog (1985).In the industry, it has been primarily used to suppress vibration
caused by a resonance condition in machinery. A DVA, sometimes referred to as a tuned mass
damper, consists of a spring-mass system installed on a vibrating machine. In its classic form,
its natural frequency is tuned to match the natural frequency of the machine it is installed on.
Because of this tuning a DVA exerts a force on the main system that is equal and opposite to
the excitation force, canceling vibration at the resonant frequency. In modern applications, the
goal is to assure the performance within specifications over a wide frequency range while
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minimizing the size of the device. A DVA is viewed by many engineers as a single frequency
device. Analysis and an application example (presented below) demonstrate how vibration
suppression in a wide frequency range can be achieved.
3.3 Undamped Tuned Dynamic Absorber
A sinusoidal force F
0
sin w t acts on an undamped main mass-spring system (without the
absorber mass attached). When the forcing frequency equals the natural frequency of the main
mass the response is infinite. This is called resonance, and it can cause severe problems for
vibrating systems. When an absorbing mass-spring system is attached to the main mass and
the resonance of the absorber is tuned to match that of the main mass, the motion of the main
mass is reduced to zero at its resonance frequency. Thus, the energy of the main mass is
apparently "absorbed" by the tuned dynamic absorber. It is interesting to note that the motion of
the absorber is finite at this resonance frequency, even though there is NO damping in either
oscillator. This is because the system has changed from a 1-DOF system to a 2-DOF system
and now has two resonance frequencies, neither of which equals the original resonance
frequency of the main mass (and also the absorber).

Fig 1.4 Dynamic Vibration Absorber
If no damping is present, the response of the 2-DOF system is infinite at these new
frequencies. While this may not be a problem when the machine is running at its natural
frequency, an infinite response can cause problems during startup and shutdown. A finite
amount of damping for both masses will prevent the motion of either mass from becoming
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infinite at either of the new resonance frequencies. However if damping is present
in either mass-spring element, the response of the main mass will no longer be zero at the
target frequency.
3.4 Single-Degree-Of-Freedom System

To analyze a single-degree-of-freedom (SDOF) DVA attached to a SDOF primary
vibration system appears at a first sight as a rather trivial problem. However, its solution
provides general and useful information on vibration absorber efficiency while determining the
optimum parameters. In fact, many multi-degrees of-freedom (MDOF) and continuous systems
are condensable into SDOF systems close to their natural frequencies. Moreover, the properties
of rotational SDOF DVAs and rotational primary vibration systems are directly attained from
their rectilinear analogies by replacing displacement with angle, mass with moment of-inertia,
and force with moment.

3.5 Multi-Degrees-Of-Freedom System

The SDOF DVAs and primary vibration systems treated hitherto are readily extended
into MDOF arrangements, either by allowing for a MDOF DVA, or for a MDOF primary vibration
systems or for both being of MDOF, Multimass/spring DVAs are applied for a number of various
reasons: to distribute their action on the primary vibration system, to reduce the individual
damper mass and size, and to enlarge their effective bandwidth (as compared to the mono-
mass/spring DVA), to mention just a few examples. However, attention to ensure that the added
mass displacements are not excessively large is needed. The design scheme for simple mass
spring DVAs is successfully applied for MDOF primary vibration systems with well-separated
natural frequencies] This procedure is not suggested for primary systems with a dense
spectrum of natural frequencies, such as hipped plates and shells. A fruitful method to reduce
the vibrations of an MDOF primary vibration system is to use a single MDOF DVA, which is
simultaneously effective at several resonance frequencies, such as a plate or beam DVA of
infinitely many DOFs.

3.6 Design Considerations

Unlike other vibration reduction procedures, DVAs are possible to specify and design not
only at the drawing and construction stage of the primary vibrating system but also during its
operational phase, in this manner suppressing unwanted and maybe unexpected vibrations.
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Moreover, the application of DVAs is considered as a fairly economical method to reduce
vibrations. There is a great variety of DVA and primary system designs. The undamped mass
spring DVA is the simplest configuration. However, this narrow-band tuned DVA is in practical
application of little use as the excitations frequency generally varies and the realized damping
and stiffness commonly differ from their optimal values. In practice, damped DVAs are used to
enlarge the effective frequency range, while introducing an energy dissipation mechanism.
Occasionally, detachable DVA masses of various weights are employed for fine tuning. Multi-
mass/spring DVAs are also applicable. Steel and rubber springs are often employed in DVAs.

Hydraulic, pneumatic, and magnetic dampers, wired steel ropes, and polymer elements,
such as from rubber and plastic, are frequently applied as the energy dissipation component of
the DVA. The employed damping models are of a viscous, hysterical, and, in some cases, of a
Coulomb friction type. From the designers point of view, the optimal loss factor for a typical
relative mass exceeds the realistic loss factor for many engineering materials
showing hysteretic damping, including natural rubber. As a result, the relative mass must be
decreased, in this way limiting the required loss factor to a realistic level. However, the
maximum displacement of the DVA is then increased. The design procedure outlined in this
chapter is also applicable for multiharmonic excitation of the primary vibrating system. A
damped DVA is then used for each excitation frequency. Continuous DVA structures, such as
beams and plates, are also applicable while being simultaneously effective at several
frequencies.

Although harmonic forces are the most common primary vibration system excitation,
other signals may exist, such as transients, random, and periodic. impulses. Likewise, there are
other types of DVAs: pendulum, nonlinear, liquid, and granular-material-filled DVAs, to mention
just a few examples. Recently, active DVAs are applied, generally providing more effective
vibration suppression than their inactive counterparts, however, to the cost of higher complexity
and larger outlays. Smart materials are also applied to DVAs, including piezoelectric, electro-
,and magneto rheological materials.