Further investigation and experimental study of an origami structure-based quasi-zero-stiffness vibration isolator

A quasi-zero stiffness (QZS) vibration isolator formed from a truss-spring stacked Miura-ori (TS-SMO) origami structure can provide a desired ultra-low dynamic stiffness for vibration isolation while remaining a high-static stiffness for load supporting capacity. This paper further investigates the design parameters and experimentally studies the dynamic performance of the proposed TS-SMO vibration isolation system. The effects of the spring parameters and the initial setup conditions on its static response are analysed. With the proper parameter selection, the resultant supporting force generated by the origami structure can be expressed as a polynomial containing the static force and dynamic force components which does not have the linear term. The displacement transmissibility of the proposed system is calculated to evaluate its isolation performance. Analytical and numerical results are in good agreement and both demonstrate an ultra-low resonance frequency for vibration isolation. The dynamic behaviour of the proposed system is also investigated under different conditions to enhance the vibration isolation performance. A proof-of-concept prototype is designed, fabricated and tested to verify both static and dynamic performances of the TS-SMO QZS isolator. The comparative experimental results between the corresponding linear isolation system and the proposed nonlinear QZS system validate the design of origami-inspired structure for vibration isolation and further confirm the effectiveness of the QZS vibration isolator. It is hoped that this research would provide a solid foundation for designing and modelling the TS-SMO structure adopted for vibration isolation in practical engineering applications.