Scenarios in the experimental response of a vibro-impact single-degree-of-freedom system and numerical simulations

In this paper, possible scenarios within the experimental dynamic response of a vibro-impact single-degree-of-freedom system, symmetrically constrained by deformable and dissipative bumpers, were identified and described. The different scenarios were obtained varying selected parameters, namely peak table acceleration A , amplitude of the total gap between mass and bumpers G and bumper’s stiffness B. Subsequently, using a Simplified Nonlinear Model results in good agreement with the experimental outcomes were obtained, although the model includes only the nonlinearities due to clearance existence and impact occurrence. Further numerical analysis highlighted other scenarios that can be obtained for values of the parameters not considered in the experimental laboratory campaign. Finally, to attempt a generalization of the results, suitable dimensionless parameters were introduced.