Abstract: A tuned mass damper for attenuating vibrations in a selected plane of a mechanical structure, by magnetically induced eddy current damping. A moving damper mass is coupled to a vibrating mass through one or more flexures that confine relative movement of the damper mass substantially to the selected plane. A magnet structure is rigidly attached to either the vibrating mass or the damper mass, and a conductor plate is attached to the other of these masses. Movement of the damper mass relative to the vibrating mass induces eddy currents in the conductor plate and thereby generates a damping force that attenuates vibration in the selected plane.

Abstract: Apparatus, and a related method, for damping vibrations in a flexible structure by a combination of tuned mass damping and particle damping. Combining the two damping techniques in a single apparatus provides a desirable frequency response characteristic that provides damping over a wide frequency range and, because the apparatus is relatively insensitive to temperature changes, provides reliable damping in space structures exposed to extremes of temperature. Damping with the apparatus can be tuned and adjusted by selection of appropriate components for the tuned mass damping portion and, in the particle damper portion, by selection of a tuning beam length, the size and material of particles, and a particle container gap height.