EACS 2016 Paper No. 199
The inerter is a novel dynamic device that is the subject of substantial research interest as a passive vibration control device. In this paper we present results from the design and testing of a novel type of fluid inerter system where the inertance can be varied. This variable inertance is achieved by having a fluid filled cylinder that induces flow in a helical pipe system. The parameters of the helical pipe system can be adjusted to give different amounts of inertial force depending on the requirements. Tests were carried out on the inerter system, and it was shown that with the maximum inertance set-up for this system, the sensitivity of output force to input velocity was approximately 500N force for a 1Hz increase in excitation frequency.