Proof of concept of a tunable suspension using a temperature-driven polymer

Abstract Vibration isolation consists in attenuating the transfer of vibrations between two systems by means of a suspension system. The analysis of the different life cycles shows that for suspension to function optimally, the cutoff frequency should vary according to operating conditions, and comfort, performance or integrity objectives. Thus a well-tuned suspension system should be capable of adapting its stiffness to meet varying isolation requirements. This paper proposes a proof-of-concept for a suspension integrating a temperature-driven polymer which is used to adjust the cutoff frequency. A numerical finite element model is developed to design the system and to assess its performance under various thermal and mechanical contact conditions. The results demonstrate that a large tunability of the resonant frequency of the structure can be obtained changing the applied temperature. They are validated through a dedicated experimental campaign. Overall, this work paves the way for a novel adaptive suspension concept based on a smart polymer with temperature-driven properties.