Systems and devices for absorbing vibrations and/or flexural waves acting upon a structure
Disclosed are systems for absorbing and/or isolating vibrations and/or flexural waves acting upon a structure using scatterers. In one example, a scatterer includes a pair of supports separated from each other by a distance, a flexible material extending between the supports, and a mass disposed on the flexible material. The flexible material acts as a spring and damper in a mass-spring-damper system, while the mass acts as a mass in a mass-spring-damper system. This scatterer may also include the ability to be switched on/off by placing a member within a cavity defined between the supports and the flexible material.
1 . A scatterer comprising:
a pair of supports separated from each other by a distance;
a flexible material extending between the supports;
a mass disposed on the flexible material; and
a member configured to be selectively placed within a cavity defined between the pair of supports and the flexible material that prevents flexing of the flexible material when located within the cavity.
2 . The scatterer of claim 1 , further comprising a rigid crossbar extending between the supports.
3 . The scatterer of claim 1 , wherein the scatterer further comprises a pair of scatterers configured to be disposed on a structure and separated from each other by a separation distance.
4 . The scatterer of claim 3 , wherein:
the pair of scatterers are configured to be arranged on the structure in a direction substantially similar to the direction of a flexural wave acting on the structure; and
wherein the separation distance is approximately one-quarter of a wavelength of the flexural wave acting on the structure.
5 . The scatterer of claim 4 , wherein a resonant frequency of the pair of scatterers is approximately equal to a frequency of a wave acting on the structure.
6 . The scatterer of claim 5 , wherein the flexible material is rubber.
7 . The scatterer of claim 1 , wherein the flexible material has a first side and a second side that partially defines the cavity, the mass being connected to the first side of the flexible material.
8 . The scatterer of claim 7 , wherein the member is directly adjacent to the second side of the flexible material when located within the cavity.
9 . The scatterer of claim 8 , wherein a base surface supports the pair of supports and the member when the member is located within the cavity.
10 . The scatterer of claim 1 , wherein the member is made of a rigid material.
11 . A system for absorbing a flexural wave acting on a structure, the system comprising:
a pair of scatterers disposed on the structure and separated from each other by a separation distance;
each of the scatterers comprise:
a pair of supports;
a flexible material extending between the pair of supports, a cavity being defined between the pair of supports and the flexible material;
a mass connected to the flexible material; and
a member configured to be selectively placed within the cavity that prevents flexing of the flexible material when located within the cavity.
12 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the separation distance is approximately one-quarter of a wavelength of the flexural wave acting on the structure.
13 . The system of claim 11 , wherein a resonant frequency of the scatterers forming the pair is approximately substantially equal to or greater than a frequency of the flexural wave acting on the structure.