Vibration control of elastic double-beam system interconnected by a bio-inspired nonlinear connectors

This paper systematically investigates the isolation performance of a double-beam system interconnected by a nonlinear X-shaped connector. The dynamic model is established via geometric analysis and Hamilton's principle. The effects of connector parameters and tuning ratio on vibration control are studied, and the results validated through finite element simulations. The theoretical findings demonstrate that: (a) Compared to linear connectors, the nonlinear X-shaped connector enables the double-beam system more effectively isolate vibration transmission between flexible bodies and perform better under large-amplitude excitations by utilizing the geometric nonlinearity of the connector; (b) Their adjustable parameters allow flexible tuning to meet vibration reduction needs in various environments; (c) An unequal-length design of the upper and lower beams improves vibration control; (d) Adapting the system's tuning ratio according to excitation frequency yields superior vibration attenuation. This research proposes a potential method for the vibration isolation of continuous systems utilizing bio-inspired nonlinear characteristics.