Damping devices, systems and methods for hollow shafts, struts, and beams with bending modes

A damping system comprising:

• a hollow structural component comprising a component body and at least one inner wall with an inner diameter;
• and
• a damping device, which is disposed within the structural component and comprises:
• a tube member that is concentrically disposed within the structural component and has a first end, a second end, a first end fitting at the first end, and an outer diameter that is smaller than an inner diameter of the component body;
• a first damping element positioned axially beyond the first end of the tube member and having an inner diameter that is smaller than the outer diameter of the tube member;
• a first adapter that is threadably engaged within the first end fitting of the tube element, such that the first adapter extends axially away from the first end of the tube member, wherein the outer diameter of the first adapter is smaller than an inner diameter of the tube member, the inner diameter of the first damping element is a same as or bigger than an outer diameter of the first adapter, and the first damping element is positioned around the first adapter, such that the first damping element is attached to the tube member at the first end of the tube member via the first adapter;
• and
• a second damping element;
• wherein the first and second damping elements are configured flex against the structural component to dissipate energy from the structural component and to reduce bending of the structural component due to modal characteristics induced by vibration of the structural component;
• and
• wherein the damping device physically contacts the inner wall of the structural component at a first location via the first damping element, at a third location via the second damping element, and at a second location, which is between the first and third locations..

A method of vibration damping, the method comprising:

• providing a hollow structural component comprising a component body;
• disposing a damping device within the structural component, the damping device comprising:
• a tube member having a first end, a second end, a first end fitting at the first end, and an outer diameter that is smaller than an inner diameter of the component body;
• a first damping element positioned axially beyond the first end of the tube member and having an inner diameter that is smaller than the outer diameter of the tube member;
• a first adapter that is threadably engaged within the first end fitting of the tube element, such that the first adapter extends axially away from the first end of the tube member, wherein the outer diameter of the first adapter is smaller than an inner diameter of the tube member, the inner diameter of the first damping element is a same as or bigger than an outer diameter of the first adapter, and the first damping element is positioned around the first adapter, such that the first damping element is attached to the tube member at the first end of the tube member via the first adapter;
• and
• a second damping element attached to the second end of the tube member;
• positioning the tube member inside of the structural component so that the damping device physically contacts the structural component at a first location via the first damping element, at a third location via the second damping element, and at a second location, which is between the first and third locations;
• and
• flexing the first and second damping elements against the structural component for dissipating energy from the structural component and for reducing bending of the structural component due to modal characteristics induced by vibration of the structural component.