Optimal Design Methodology of Maxwell Coulomb Friction Damper

An optimal design methodology of Maxwell Coulomb friction damper is proposed for minimization of resonant vibration of dynamic structures. The simple Coulomb friction damper has the problem of zero or little damping effect to the vibration of spring-mass dynamic system at resonance. This problem does not exist in the case of Maxwell Coulomb friction damper which can be formed by combining a Coulomb friction damper with a spring element in series. However, the design and analysis of Maxwell Coulomb friction damper is more complicated and an optimal design methodology of such nonlinear damper is proposed in this article. The nonlinear equations of motion of the proposed damper is modelled and its hysteresis loop can be constructed by combining the four different cases of stick-slide motion. Its nonlinear equations of motion are solved numerically and the optimal values of friction and stiffness of the proposed damper is determined by using a Newton search method. Experimental validation of the optimal design of Maxwell Coulomb friction damper is carried out with a prototype of the proposed damper mounted on a linear slide block platform. Close correlation with its numerical predictions is observed in its contour plot of resonant vibration amplitude of the primary system. Damping performance of proposed damper is compared to viscous damper in seismic response design of adjacent single-storey buildings and also for damping turbine blade vibrations.