FederDämpferSysteme

FederDämpferSysteme are mechanical assemblies that use a spring (Feder) and a damper (Dämpfer) to control motion and attenuate vibrations. They store energy in the spring and dissipate it in the damper, converting kinetic energy into heat. In engineering practice, these systems function as passive vibration isolators and motion controllers in vehicles, machinery, buildings, and aerospace.

Typically the system consists of a mass connected to a spring and a damper arranged in series or parallel. The simplest model is a single-degree-of-freedom mass–spring–damper: m x'' + c x' + k x = F(t). The spring provides elastic force proportional to displacement, while the damper provides a resistive force proportional to velocity or a nonlinear function.

Dynamic behavior with linear viscous damping yields a natural frequency ωn = sqrt(k/m) and a damping ratio ζ = c/(2 sqrt(mk)). Depending on ζ, the response is underdamped, critically damped, or overdamped. Transmissibility and resonance describe how input motion transfers to the supported structure.

Design considerations include target isolation frequency, load range, space, and durability. Trade-offs exist between stiffness and comfort, with preloads and nonlinear springs used to widen the operating range. Variants include road and machine mounts, suspension struts, and isolators with tuned or passive dampers.

Historically, spring–damper systems are foundational in vibration control and remain widely used. Variants include gas springs, viscoelastic elements, hydraulic dampers, and active or semi-active systems that supplement passive elements with controlled forces.