Modular vibration system

Abstract

A modular vibration system which utilizes interchangeable modules to adapt to any of a wide range of applications and performance characteristics. The vibration system comprises a shaker module, a coupling module, and a fixture module. The shaker module includes features for mounting actuators, which provide multiaxial shaking motions, to the shaker module. The fixture module provides for attaching and holding specimens under test. The coupling module, preferably made of a visco-elastic material, couples the fixture module to the shaker module. The fixture module and the coupling module are easily separable from the shaker module. This configuration permits tuning the vibration system, over a wide range of multimodal coupling characteristics between the shaker module and the fixture module, for a specific application by interchanging fixture modules and coupling modules. The coupling characteristics can range from very flexible to very stiff and from underdamped to overdamped. The fixture module can range from a honeycomb structure which is lightweight and flexible to a solid structure which is very stiff. The thickness, shape and composition of the coupling module can be selected to adjust the damping and to provide further tuning of the stiffness. The vibration system can be held together by vacuum applied between the shaker module and fixture module or by tension members such as springs. In some cases the specimen itself can function as the fixture module.