Nonlinear Vibrations of Multi-Degree-of-Freedom Systems

Abstract

The understanding of the nonlinear dynamic behaviour of a structure is becoming more important for several reasons such as the desire to exploit nonlinear effects to good use, for example as vibration isolators, vibration absorbers and energy harvesters. Moreover, improved understanding is required as many modern structures are forced to operate out of their linear regime to increase their performance. The aim of this project is to further advance knowledge in this area by studying a model two-degree-of-freedom nonlinear system with stiffness nonlinearities, which is known to have detached resonance curves. Three activities will be carried out; analytical modelling, virtual experimentation using multibody dynamics software, and experimental work in the laboratory. It is hope that the virtual experimentation approach will bring fresh ideas to the nonlinear dynamics community. The second focus of the work will involve an investigation of efficient modelling methodologies to couple together two nonlinear single-degree-of-freedom systems in which the system characteristics are known, to form a nonlinear two-degree-of-freedom system. (AU)