Development of a Low Frequency Vibration Shaker Using Force Frequency Shifting

If a sinusoidal excitation force moves back and forth along a structure with a certain frequency, the structure will be excited with the difference frequency of these two frequencies. A low frequency vibration shaker has been developed using this force frequency shifting without actually moving a shaker The shaker consists of an ordinary eccentric mass shaker, a plate, constant springs, and time varying dampers. The dampers are turned on and off in a sequential manner to simulate a traveling slide of an excitation force. The operation of the shaker is simulated by solving the equations of motion of the shaker. Characteristics of the shaker have been found and they can be utilized to design efficient low frequency shakers.