Theoretical and experimental analysis of a nonlinear vibro-acoustic energy sink

This study is concerned with the experimental and theoretical analysis of a vibroacoustic nonlinear system devoted to absorption application. Based on the nonlinear energy sink principle, the dynamics of the system is reduced to two coupled degrees of freedom, one of which exhibits nonlinear behavior due to a large displacement mechanism. The set-up allows for precisely characterizing the nonlinear function of the mechanical system, first uncoupled and then coupled with an acoustic and linear resonator. Continuation procedures are performed experimentally and numerically, respectively using a phase-locked loop (PLL) and the asymptotic numerical method implemented in the MANLAB software package. The comparison between theoretical predictions and experimental results obtained on the uncoupled system allows for a parameter identification of the nonlinear resonator. Measurements on the coupled system highlight the energy pumping phenomenon, which can be predicted from numerical predictions in which identified parameters are introduced. The procedure aims at proposing analytical models for achieving efficient level attenuation, and providing design guidelines for sound reduction at high levels in confined spaces.