Publications Details

Experimental evaluation of low-pass shock isolation performance of elastomers using frequency-based Kolsky bar analyses

Sanborn, Brett S.; Song, Bo S.; Nishida, E.E.; Knight, Marlene E.

Elastomeric materials are used as shock isolation materials in a variety of environments to dampen vibrations and/or absorb energy from external impact to minimize energy transfer between two objects or bodies. Some applications require the shock isolation materials to behave as a low-pass mechanical filter to mitigate the shock/impact at high frequencies but transmit the energy at low frequencies with minimal attenuation. To fulfill this requirement, a shock isolation material needs to be carefully evaluated and selected with proper experimental design, procedures, and analyses. In this study, a Kolsky bar was modified with precompression (up to 15.5 kN) and confinement capabilities to evaluate low-pass shock isolation performance in terms of acceleration attenuation through a variety of elastomers. Also investigated were the effects of preload and specimen geometry on the low-pass shock isolation response.