X-mechanism Guided Elastic QZS Vibration Isolator Design for Beneficial Nonlinear Stiffness

Mechanical metamaterials are emerging vividly in recent decades elevating the limits of mechanical properties. Compared to traditional mechanical materials with classical elastic theory, the state-of-the-art mechanical metamaterials possessed many unconventional mechanical properties, such as negative stiffness, zero stiffness, ultra-toughness, negative Poisson’s ratio, etc. As stiffness being the natural property of all materials, modification on material stiffness to achieve quasi-zero stiffness attracts many research attentions. In this research, an X-mechanism guided design paradigm on elastic isolator with quasi-zero stiffness was explored by integrating both softening and hardening mechanisms from rigid body X-mechanism into soft elastic isolator of small dimension. The synergistic effect of softening and hardening mechanisms was investigated analytically and numerically. While the finite element analysis models illustrated the mechanism on reaching quasi-zero stiffness, experimental test on 3D printed elastic isolator samples demonstrates the promising results of quasi-zero stiffness range and explores favorable engineering features. The printed elastic isolator possessed a size comparable to a coin. Furthermore, the loading capacity of proposed elastic isolator are quantified with both finite element analysis and experimental test. With both finite element analysis and experimental testing, 3D printed elastic isolator samples with promising quasi-zero stiffness behavior illustrates the possibility of performing superior vibration isolation and actuator control within one-piece tiny devices. © The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2024.