Potentiality of a novel elastomagnetic attenuator for vibration control

A novel elastomagnetic attenuator was developed and tested. The innovation lies in the use of permanent magnets instead of non-magnetic parts in the standard attenuator devices made of alternating elastomeric and rigid metallic elements. In this way, the standard mechanism of passive energy dissipation is reinforced by the action of magnetic forces which can be non-linear and therefore introduce asymmetric strain dependent forces. The performed experimental tests reveal the advantages and the limits of the new attenuator device in contrasting vibrations of a simple structure. The elastomagnetic attenuator shows good vibration control, in terms of amplitude damping and resonance frequency shift towards higher values, for longitudinal oscillations propagating parallel to the main magnetic forces axis and transmitted from the outside through the base of the structure to be protected.