An Original Concept Solution of a Novel Elasto-Poro-Hydrodynamic Damper: Quasi-Static Analysis

This work proposes a novel design configuration for an elasto-poro-hydrodynamic damper (EPHD damper) that consists of an imbibed, soft, elastic, porous material enclosed by a rubber membrane. The core innovation lies in the device’s ability to collect and re-imbibe expelled fluid during decompression, ensuring potential functionality and durability across repetitive loading cycles. Damping is achieved through the synergy of three mechanisms: friction of the membrane and of the piston with solid boundaries, squeeze flow inside the porous layer, and compression of the poro-elastic structure. The EPHD damper’s behavior was evaluated both theoretically and experimentally through quasi-static, low-speed compression tests, with dynamic evaluation being reserved for future work. A numerical model successfully validated stress-deformation behavior against experimental data, with a simplified analytical model providing a good approximation. The study also identifies that the piston–membrane friction coefficient significantly influences the EPHD damper’s performance. These findings provide a valuable framework for optimizing the design and expanding its potential application to repetitive damping systems.