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Experimental study of isolas in nonlinear systems featuring modal interactions
Thibaut Detroux1, Jean-Philippe Noël1, Lawrence N Virgin2
1Space Structures and Systems Laboratory, Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering Department, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium.
Abstract:
The objective of the present paper is to provide experimental evidence of isolated resonances in the frequency response of nonlinear mechanical systems. More specifically, this work explores the presence of isolas, which are periodic solutions detached from the main frequency response, in the case of a nonlinear set-up consisting of two masses sliding on a horizontal guide. A careful experimental investigation of isolas is carried out using responses to swept-sine and stepped-sine excitations. The experimental findings are validated with advanced numerical simulations combining nonlinear modal analysis and bifurcation monitoring. In particular, the interactions between two nonlinear normal modes are shown to be responsible for the creation of the isolas.
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