antivibrations

Antivibrations refer to techniques and devices designed to reduce the transmission of mechanical vibrations between connected bodies or to damp and absorb vibration energy within a structure. The goal is to improve system performance, protect sensitive components, reduce noise, and enhance user comfort by limiting vibration amplitudes over the relevant frequency range.

Principles of antivibration rely on isolation and damping. Isolation introduces compliant supports with a lower natural frequency than the dominant excitation, so transmitted motion falls as frequency rises. Damping reduces resonant peaks and energy storage, broadening attenuation. Many designs combine springs or elastomeric mounts with dampers to achieve both effects.

Common implementations are passive antivibration devices such as elastomer mounts, rubber pads, coil or air springs, and viscous dampers. Active antivibration uses sensors, actuators, and control algorithms to counteract motion in real time, extending effective attenuation into challenging frequency bands.

Applications include machinery and equipment isolation (generators, pumps, compressors), vehicle engine and suspension mounts, precision instrumentation and optics, and consumer electronics where vibration can degrade performance or reliability.

Key design considerations are load rating, allowed displacement, environmental conditions, excitation spectrum, and cost. Material aging, nonlinear behavior, and space constraints can limit performance. While antivibration techniques can substantially reduce vibration, complete suppression across all frequencies is rarely possible.