OPTIMUM DESIGN OF AN IMPACT ABSORBER

A shock absorber with nth order stiffness and mth order damping is designed for optimum response to a step change in base velocity (an acceleration impulse). The objective of the design is to minimize the maximum acceleration level occurring during the transient response. A single constraint is used to limit relative motion between the base and the isolated mass and another constraint is added to limit the oscillatory nature of the system response. Results of the study are presented on dimensionless curves showing the optimum stiffness and damping coefficients and the expected system performance as functions of m and n.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • Contributed by the Design Automation Committee of the Design Engineering Division of The American Society of Mechanical Engineers for presentation at the Design Engineering Technical Conference, Cincinnati, Ohio, Sept. 9-12, 1973.
• Corporate Authors:

  American Society of Mechanical Engineers

  Two Park Avenue
  New York, NY  United States  10016-5990
• Authors:
  • Afimiwala, K A
  • Mayne, R W
• Publication Date: 1973-9

Media Info

• Features: Figures; References;
• Pagination: 7 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Cushioning materials; Train track dynamics
• Old TRIS Terms: Cushioning
• Subject Areas: Materials; Railroads;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00051425
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: ASME Journal of Mechanical Engineering
• Report/Paper Numbers: 73-DET-4 Paper
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Apr 9 1974 12:00AM