Simulation and optimization of magnetic negative stiffness dampers

•This paper investigates two novel configurations of passive magnetic negative stiffness dampers (MNSDs).•Passive MNSDs may achieve as good vibration mitigation performance as active or semi-active dampers.•MNSDs efficiently integrate negative stiffness and eddy-current damping in compact and simple configurations.•Numerical models are developed to simulate MNSDs and validated via experimental results.•The optimal design of MNSDs is conducted with respect to stiffness and damping coefficients.

This paper presents the detailed modelling, parametric studies, and optimizations for two recently proposed magnetic negative stiffness dampers (MNSDs). Both dampers are composed of several coaxially arranged permanent magnets and a conductive pipe. The novel MNSDs can efficiently integrate negative stiffness and eddy-current damping in compact and simple configurations. However, the optimal design of MNSDs has never been investigated. Therefore, this paper establishes numerical models for MNSDs, and the accuracy of the model is validated through a comparison with the experimental results. The effects of magnet arrangement and dimensions on the negative stiffness and eddy-current damping characteristics are systematically investigated through parametric studies. The MNSDs are also individually optimized to maximize the negative stiffness and eddy-current damping coefficients. Based on the optimization results, some optimal design formulas are obtained to facilitate the quick design of MNSDs for different vibration suppression applications in the future.