Nonsmooth dynamics of oscillators with frictional contacts: analyses and experiments

The model of a non-smooth oscillator, which exhibits different discontinuity boundaries in the phase space, is considered in order to investigate the dynamics of vibrating systems characterized by the occurrence of multiple frictional contacts. A test set-up of the model has been built and its behaviour is experimentally investigated to find out the existence of the non-standard bifurcations predicted by the theoretical analyses and the influence of other parameters, as the friction coefficient, the non-ideal energy source, the variation of the normal contact force during the oscillations. Based on measurements performed, a good qualitative agreement with the responses of the theoretical model has been observed.