Vibration suppression for strings with distributed loading using spatial cross-section modulation

A problem of vibration suppression in any preassigned region of a bounded structure subjected to action of an external time-periodic load which is distributed over its domain is considered. A passive control is applied, in which continuous spatially periodic modulations of structural parameters are used as a means for vibration suppression. As an example, stationary vibrations of a string under action of a distributed time-periodic load are studied. This system in a simplified form models such processes as interaction between membranes and colloids, oscillations of transmission lines under action of rain and wind, and dynamics of suspension bridges and stay cables. Suppression of vibration in predefined regions of the string is performed by continuous spatial modulation of its cross-section. For analyzing the problem considered a novel approach named the method of varying amplitudes is employed. This approach is applicable for solving differential equations without a small parameter, and may be considered as a natural continuation of the classical methods of harmonic balance and averaging. As a result, optimal parameters for the string cross-sectional area modulation are determined for the cases of harmonically, uniformly and arbitrarily distributed load, which allows for completely suppressing or considerably reducing vibration in the prescribed part of the string (compared to the case without modulation). (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.