Vibration Damping Mechanisms with Gyroscopic Moment

Damping mechanisms based on gyroscopic moments are studied and their characteristics are compared with conventional mechanisms. A generalized form of Schlick's gyroscope is theoretically analyzed, and an optimal design method is derived. The stabilizing effect is compared with the rotational dynamic vibration absorber. It turns out that the effect of the passive gyroscopic stabilizer depends on the rotating speed of the gyroscope; thus the stabilizer has no essential limitation by the inertial moment such as there is with the rotational dynamic vibration absorber. The gimbal movement of the CMG (control moment gyroscope) is directly controlled with an actuator, thus it can be used as a fully active vibration control mechanism. The single-gimbal CMG is compared with the RW (reaction wheel) with respect to the damping efficiency for impulsive disturbances. Experiments with a single-gimbal CMG for a Pendulum are carried out and the results prove the efficiency.