Steady-State Responses of a Suspension Vibration Isolator with Diagonal Inerters

Purpose: The present work attempts to propose a suspension vibration isolator with both diagonal dampers and inerters and investigates analytically its dynamic characteristics, laying the foundation for its engineering application. Methods: A dynamic equation of the suspension vibration isolator with both diagonal dampers and inerters is formulated in terms of dimensionless relative displacements. The harmonic balance method is used to calculate the steady-state responses to harmonic base excitations. The calculations yield the amplitude–frequency responses of the conventional suspension vibration isolator, and the suspension vibration isolators with diagonal dampers only and with both diagonal dampers and inerters, respectively. The outcomes are validated by the numerical solutions via direct integrations. The results in terms of dimensionless relative displacements are translated into those in terms of dimensionless absolute displacement for the practical sake. The backbone curves and the amplitude–frequency responses are examined for different system parameters. The stabilities and the transmissibility of the steady-state responses are determined. Results and Conclusion: The investigation shows that the diagonal inerter can reduce the peak responses of suspension vibration isolators and widen the vibration isolation frequency band.