Acoustic decoupling for structural elements by affixed supports - inherent contradiction or perfect complement? Restrained vibration isolation supports - a critical review

Restrained vibration isolation supports balance efficient isolation performance and stability for the supporting body under present loads. Necessary and beneficially for noise and vibration isolation applications with stringent stability requirements, such as full building isolation with potential uplift, interior partition sway bracing, curtain walls, elevator rail isolation, and mechanical vibration isolation, the performance of restrained vibration isolators are often misunderstood or oversimplified. This paper investigates the general vibration isolation theory used to create the analytical model for restrained isolation supports, intricacies of vibration isolation materials which may cause reality to diverge from well-known models, comparison of theory to laboratory testing, and a review of common uses/applications for these types of vibration isolation solutions, and recommendation to avoid undesired results from common pitfalls associated with restrained isolation supports implementation and installations.