Efficiency of vibrational energy dissipation by tuned rolling-cylinder dampers

The damping efficiency of a tuned rolling-cylinder damper in a horizontally vibrating system under sinusoidal excitation was investigated experimentally and analytically. The damper is an auxiliary system and consists of some rotary bodies placed on a circular arc surface attached to the primary system. The friction force between rotary bodies is a source of energy dissipation of the auxiliary system. In an experimental approach, the effects of the size of rotary bodies, the number of rotary bodies with different radii used in combination and the amplitude of external excitation on the damping performance were investigated. In an analytical approach, an analytical model based on the discrete element method was constructed. The validity of the analytical model was confirmed by comparing experimental and analytical results. In addition, the effect of the radius of the circular arc surface on the damping performance was examined analytically.