Design methodology of interlinked vibration absorbers using three-terminal network identification

The introduction of the inerter results in the completion of force-current analogy. Thus, passive vibration absorbers can be modelled as mechanical networks, which makes it possible for network-synthesis approach originated in the electrical domain to be applied for mechanical network realisation. Compared to electrical networks, minimising the number of elements in a mechanical network is more critical due to practical space constraints around alignment, linkages and size, and due to cost constraints. To this end, several network realisation techniques, which enumerate a complete set of desired networks with predetermined network topology and complexity, have been proposed to identify beneficial independent vibration absorbers. However, in terms of the interlinked absorbers, a general realisability procedure is much less well developed. In this study, a family of interlinked absorbers are represented as three-terminal networks. A systematic approach is thus proposed to realise a full set of series-parallel three-terminal networks with predetermined network topology and complexity. Advantages of the proposed approach are demonstrated using a vehicle interlinked suspension case study, where the identified network could provide 24.9% performance improvement over the optimal default system. • A systematic approach is proposed to cover the full set of series-parallel three-terminal networks for the purpose of identifying optimum network configurations. • The Generic-Immittance-Function-Networks are developed to facilitate the enumeration of the totality of series-parallel three-terminal networks with a pre-determined number of elements. • A family of hydraulically interlinked vibration absorbers is modelled as three-terminal networks, which is used as a case study for vehicle suspension design. • Beneficial networks are identified using the proposed approach, with 24.9% improvements obtained for the vehicle ride comfort over the optimal default system, with no compromise of the vehicle roll performance.