Attenuation of Motorcycle Handle Vibration Using Dynamic Vibration Absorber

TheVibration Lab, School of Mechanical Engineering, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 14300 Nibong Tebal, SPS, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia

^* Email: mailto:mezaidi@usm.my, mailto:thevibrationlab@gmail.com Phone: +6045996368; Fax: +6045996912

Abstract

Motorcycle riders are exposed to hand-transmitted vibration of the hand-arm system due to the vibration of the handle and extended exposure can result in numbness and trembling. One feasible solution to attenuate the handle vibration is by using a dynamic vibration absorber (DVA). In this work a DVA is designed and mounted on the motorcycle handle in order to reduce the vibration at the handle by transferring the vibration from the primary system handle to the secondary mass. Removal of elastomeric material at the DVA mounting locations, symmetry of secondary mass and the direction of DVA attachment influence the vibration absorption. A series of tests conducted show that the vibration on the handle is mainly induced by the engine and there is additional source of vibration from the road surface roughness. Installation of DVA at different locations on the handle resulted in various attenuation levels at different speed in the x and z directions. the attenuation level is between 59-68 % in the biodynamic x-directions for speed at 30-50 kmh^-1.