TY - GEN
T1 - Design and analysis of high-frequency periodically layered isolators for helicopter gearbox isolation
AU - Szefi, Joseph T.
AU - Smith, Edward C.
AU - Lesieutre, George A.
PY - 2003
Y1 - 2003
N2 - Vibration generation by meshing gear pairs is a significant source of vibration and cabin noise in rotorcraft transmissions. This tonal, high-frequency gearbox noise (500 Hz - 2000 Hz) is primarily transmitted to the fuselage through rigid connections, which do not appreciably attenuate vibratory energy. Because periodically-layered elastomer and metal isolators exhibit transmissibility "stop bands", or frequency ranges in which there is very low transmissibility, they may provide an elegant passive vibration control solution. Realistic design constraints associated with helicopter gearbox isolator mass, axial stiffness, and elastomeric fatigue are estimated. An optimization routine is then used in concert with design constraints and an axisymmetric isolator model to determine layered isolator passive performance limits. The optimization results suggest that layered isolators cannot always be designed to meet target frequencies given a certain set of constraints. Therefore, passive performance enhancements to layered isolators are considered. The use of embedded fluid elements in the metal layers results in a combination of advantageous performance benefits, including motion amplification and vibration absorber effects. The enhanced layered isolators are capable of passively providing broadband noise attenuation, as well as dramatic attenuation at discrete problematic tones.
AB - Vibration generation by meshing gear pairs is a significant source of vibration and cabin noise in rotorcraft transmissions. This tonal, high-frequency gearbox noise (500 Hz - 2000 Hz) is primarily transmitted to the fuselage through rigid connections, which do not appreciably attenuate vibratory energy. Because periodically-layered elastomer and metal isolators exhibit transmissibility "stop bands", or frequency ranges in which there is very low transmissibility, they may provide an elegant passive vibration control solution. Realistic design constraints associated with helicopter gearbox isolator mass, axial stiffness, and elastomeric fatigue are estimated. An optimization routine is then used in concert with design constraints and an axisymmetric isolator model to determine layered isolator passive performance limits. The optimization results suggest that layered isolators cannot always be designed to meet target frequencies given a certain set of constraints. Therefore, passive performance enhancements to layered isolators are considered. The use of embedded fluid elements in the metal layers results in a combination of advantageous performance benefits, including motion amplification and vibration absorber effects. The enhanced layered isolators are capable of passively providing broadband noise attenuation, as well as dramatic attenuation at discrete problematic tones.
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U2 - 10.2514/6.2003-1784
DO - 10.2514/6.2003-1784
M3 - Conference contribution
AN - SCOPUS:85088184565
SN - 9781624101007
T3 - 44th AIAA/ASME/ASCE/AHS/ASC Structures, Structural Dynamics, and Materials Conference
BT - 44th AIAA/ASME/ASCE/AHS/ASC Structures, Structural Dynamics and Materials Conference
PB - American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics Inc.
T2 - 44th AIAA/ASME/ASCE/AHS/ASC Structures, Structural Dynamics, and Materials Conference 2003
Y2 - 7 April 2003 through 10 April 2003
ER -