Numerical optimisation of a classical stochastic system for targeted energy transfer

The paper studies stochastic dynamics of a two-degree-of-freedom system, where a primary linear system is connected to a nonlinear energy sink with cubic stiffness nonlinearity and viscous damping. While the primary mass is subjected to a zero-mean Gaussian white noise excitation, the main objective of this study is to maximise the efficiency of the targeted energy transfer in the system. A surrogate optimisation algorithm is proposed for this purpose and adopted for the stochastic framework. The optimisations are conducted separately for the nonlinear stiffness coefficient alone as well as for both the nonlinear stiffness and damping coefficients together. Three different optimisation cost functions, based on either energy of the system’s components or the dissipated energy, are considered. The results demonstrate some clear trends in values of the nonlinear energy sink coefficients and show the effect of different cost functions on the optimal values of the nonlinear system’s coefficients.