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Module 2: Excitation reduction at source and factors affecting vibration level

Lecture 7: Detuning and Decoupling

This Lecture Contains:

Detuning

Decoupling

Application of the Concept in Aircraft Structure

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Module 2: Excitation reduction at source and factors affecting vibration level

Lecture 7: Detuning and Decoupling

Detuning

In the last section, for balancing rotors, we have noticed that the operating speed closer to the
critical speed of the rotor would create resonance and consequently large amplitude of vibration
of the system. Thus, it is always desirable to keep the natural frequency of the system away from
the excitation frequency.

The technique of change of system parameters like mass and stiffness to avoid resonance is
known as Detunting.

Example - let us look at the new design of the Tacoma narrows suspension bridge.

Referring to above figures showing, respectively, the original and redesigned decks, we notice that, in
the modified design, the side trusses were lowered and tied at the bottom end by a horizontal truss. The
original open section was replaced by a closed-box section. The new design is torsionally much stiffer
than the original design, and as a result, the fundamental torsional natural frequency exceeds the
excitation frequencies generated even by a very high wind speed. In this way, the bridge was detuned
from the excitation frequencies.

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Module 2: Excitation reduction at source and factors affecting vibration level

Lecture 7: Detuning and Decoupling

Decoupling

In an assembly process, an attempt should be made such that the natural frequencies of the
various components and the assembly itself are detuned from one another.

The technique of decreasing the number of coupled resonators in a system is known as

decoupling.

A complex system like control board of automobiles consists of many subsystems. It is always
attempted that the subsystems are integrated mechanically in such a way that the whole system
behaves as a single united system with a natural frequency beyond excitation frequency level.

The methods of detuning and decoupling we have suggested are more suitable for a system
subjected to broad-band excitation. When using any such method, it should be ensured that the
new natural frequencies are not more harmful than the original ones.

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Module 2: Excitation reduction at source and factors affecting vibration level

Lecture 7: Detuning and Decoupling

In a continuous system subjected to broad-band excitation, the natural frequencies should be

separated as widely as possible so that not too many modes participate in the response.

Jet noise often generates broad band excitation of modern aircraft fuselage (refer to Example 1
of lecture 4)

To reduce the effect of vibration, the fuselage structure is stiffened by using stringers in between
the shell panels (see fig 7.1)

Figure 7.1: Shell panel with stringers

As the stringers are identical and equally spaced and the excitation is predominant along the X-
direction (Fig. 7.1), neglecting the curvature of the panel, the structure can be modeled as a
periodically supported beam (Fig. 7.2).

Figure 7.2: Periodically supported beam

In Fig. 7.2, represents the torsional stiffness and the bending stiffness of the stringers
with representing the uniform spacing between the stringers. Such a periodic structure, as we
know, has alternate propagation and attenuation frequency bands.

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Module 2: Excitation reduction at source and factors affecting vibration level

Lecture 7: Detuning and Decoupling

Figure 7.3: Stringer bending and torsion modes

It has been shown that the lower ends of the propagation bands are given by the natural
frequencies of the element shown in Fig.7.3b. The modes corresponding to these frequencies are
called the stringer torsion modes.

The lower bounds of the propagation bands may be denoted by with

The upper bounds of the propagation bands are given by the natural frequencies of the flexural
element shown in Fig. 7.3c. The modes corresponding to these frequencies are called the
stringer bending modes and denoted by with

Thus, the propagation bands extend from to with . It has been further
shown that, for an N-span periodic beam, a periodic element of which is shown in Fig. 7.3a,
every successive set of N natural frequencies is clustered within each propagation band given by
to . So, for the natural frequencies to be widely separated, the values of 's should be
minimum and those of ' s maximum. In other words, the values of should be low and
those of high, i.e., the stringer cross-section should be such that it has a low torsional
stiffness and a high bending stiffness. This automatically suggests that the cross-section be
open, such as Z-section and top-hat section.

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