An analytical vibration model of a one-dimensional two-stage periodic isolation system for the broadband vibration suppression of an underwater glider

Periodic isolation system is effectively applied in broadband vibration control. To further enhance the broadband vibration attenuation effect, the paper proposes a two-stage periodic isolation system for an underwater glider. The analytical model of the one-dimensional two-stage periodic isolation system is developed through the multi-degree of freedom spring mass model method. For illustrating the superiority of the proposed two-stage periodic isolator, the force transmission ratio and the wave propagation constant of the SDOF isolator, the single-stage periodic isolator, and the two-stage periodic isolator are calculated and compared. In order to obtain the dynamic parameter influences on the vibration isolation performances as the design guidelines of the two-stage periodic isolator, the parametrical study is carried out based on the analytical model. Furthermore, a two-stage periodic isolator is designed for an underwater glider. The application effect of the two-stage periodic isolator is investigated through analytical modeling and finite element method, comparing to the single-stage periodic isolator. The research results from the analytical models show the proposed two-stage periodic isolator could strength the broadband vibration suppression. The parametrical study results demonstrate the vibration attenuation bandgap and attenuation amount are greatly influenced by the designed dynamic parameters, such as the mass unit and the spring unit of the periodic isolator, the intermediate mass of the two-stage isolator, and the number of the periodic cells. In application study of an underwater glider, the finite element results verify that the two-stage periodic isolator has more vibration attenuation effect than the single-stage periodic isolator. The vibration isolation assessment according to the proposed analytical model gives good predictive performance before the finite element model verification.