Parametric design and experimental characterization of additively manufactured vibration isolators for aircraft cabin applications

Abstract

Structure-borne vibration transmitted through mechanical interfaces is an important contributor to aircraft cabin noise, while conventional isolators offer limited flexibility for adapting stiffness to application-specific requirements. This study investigates additive manufacturing as an enabler for parameterized vibration isolators, linking application requirements, design principles, simulation, manufacturing, and experimental assessment. Seven isolator design variants were investigated: four fused deposition modeling (FDM)-based and three stereolithography (SLA)-based design variants. Four TPU hardness grades were explored within the FDM-based variants as a separate material dimension; one grade did not yield specimens suitable for dynamic characterization. Finite element analysis was used for pre-screening, followed by axial transmissibility measurements on an electrodynamic shaker over 30–2000 Hz against a commercial elastomer isolator as reference. Experimental validation is limited to the axial direction; anisotropic stiffness is targeted by design but was not independently confirmed through radial measurements. Measurements indicate that geometric variations, particularly wall thickness and internal architecture, influence resonance location and isolation-region behavior across the investigated AM variants. A Parametric Design Map links design, process, simulation, and measurement data, demonstrating the feasibility of a measurement-supported parametric development approach for future aircraft cabin isolator applications.