Abstract

The natural frequency, dynamic stiffness, and insertion loss of commercially available neoprene pad vibration isolators have been measured in a simple, single degree of freedom system over a wide range of pad loadings out to a maximum frequency of 10 kHz.  The results reveal that dynamic stiffness can vary significantly with pad loading as well as the durometer of the material.  It will also be shown that insertion loss follows the theoretical single degree of freedom curve only out to a frequency that is about 5 to 10 times the natural frequency, depending upon the pad durometer rating.  Above that frequency wave resonances in the material cause the insertion loss to deteriorate significantly out to a frequency near 1 kHz, above which the insertion loss maintains a relatively constant value, again depending upon the pad durometer rating.  In some instances the insertion loss values can approach 0 dB or even become negative at specific frequencies in the frequency region that is 10 to 20 times the natural frequency of the system.