Damper with high dissipating power

A shock absorber having high dissipating power, of the type comprising a rod-and-piston assembly (2, 3) slidably received in a cylinder (4) and defining on either side of a piston (3) respective working chambers (5.1;

• 5.2) containing a hydraulic fluid, said rod-and-piston assembly being connected to an external source of disturbance (SP) and said cylinder being connected to a structure to be protected (S), wherein:
• each working chamber (5.1;
• 5.2) communicates continuously with an associated chamber (6.1;
• 6.2) containing a heterogeneous energy absorption-dissipation structure constituted by at least one capillo-porous matrix (9) and an associated liquid (9′) relative to which said matrix is lyophobic;
• and
• each working chamber (5.1;
• 5.2) also communicates with a common chamber (7) via an associated valve system (8.1;
• 8.2), said system including non-return means (8.11;
• 8.21) causing the working chamber concerned to close automatically during compression, and causing said chamber to open during expansion, said common chamber constituting a compensation chamber ensuring continuity of the hydraulic fluid during displacements of the rod-and-piston assembly (2, 3) in the cylinder (4).