Design of vibro-impact dampers with different optimized parameters affecting the system dynamic behavior

The problem of controlling and mitigating vibrations of the main structure is very important. The use of passive control devices is one solution to this problem. To ensure high efficiency of these devices, their parameters must be optimized. Many authors have addressed the problem of selecting the optimal design for such dampers, but many issues remain unresolved. This paper examines the influence of various optimal designs of the asymmetric single-sided vibro-impact non-linear energy sinks (SSVI NESs), that is, vibro-impact dampers, on system dynamics and damper efficiency in mitigating unwanted vibrations of the main structure. Nine damper designs with different masses and other optimized parameters are considered. These designs exhibit similarly high efficiency but display complex and distinct dynamic behaviors. We show that many damper designs can achieve comparable high performance. Therefore, the results of optimization procedures—which, moreover, allow a considerable degree of arbitrariness in their execution—can be ambiguous. SSVI NESs consistently display complex asymmetrical dynamics with alternating periodic modes and irregular, particularly chaotic, modes across different excitation force frequencies. Although the dynamic behavior of each optimally designed damper varies, this complexity does not affect the damper efficiency, which remains relatively stable.