Design Considerations of a Vibration Absorber with Nonlinear Stiffness for Power Electric Units

Power electronic units (PEUs) in electric drivetrains are subjected to vibration loads that may lead to component fatigue through resonance. This research aims to understand the behavior of passive vibration absorbers and to establish a design approach for them. The proposed systematic design of a nonlinear tuned mass damper (NTMD) for PEUs begins with the separate linear experimental analyses of the PEU and passive absorber. This linear approach is possible due to the Hartman–Grobman theorem. Then the nonlinearity is quantified through frequency sweep measurements. A two-degree-of-freedom (DoF) coupled model is developed for the NTMD, which can be used for analyzing certain parameter changes. To manage the load-dependent responses inherent to nonlinear behavior, design constraints on the attenuated bandwidth and absorber stiffness are introduced, providing clear and optimizable targets. By extending classical linear absorber design principles to nonlinear regimes, the proposed method enhances the durability and reliability of PEU components.