  Granular damping devices constitute an emerging technology for the
attenuation of vibrations based on the dissipative nature of particle
collisions. We show that the performance of such devices is independent of the
material properties of the particles for working conditions where damping is
optimal. Even the suppression of a dissipation mode (collisional or frictional)
is unable to alter the response. We explain this phenomenon in terms of the
inelastic collapse of granular materials. These findings provide a crucial
standpoint for the design of such devices in order to achieve the desired low
maintenance feature that makes particle dampers particularly suitable to harsh
environments.
