2018/07/05 by Rainer M. J. Groh, Rainer Groh, Groh, Rainer M. J. +6
Engineering · Physics and Astronomy · #Applied Physics (physics.app-ph) #Bladed Disk Vibration Dynamics #Dynamics and Control of Mechanical Systems #FOS: Physical sciences #Vibration and Dynamic Analysis #physics.app-ph
paper · pdf · doi:10.48550/arxiv.1807.02026
arxiv created 2018/07/05 · openalex publication_date 2018/07/05 · arxiv updated 2018/07/06 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28
We present a critical advance in experimental testing of nonlinear structures. Traditional quasi-static experimental methods control the displacement or force at one or more load-introduction points on a structure. This approach is unable to traverse limit points in the control parameter, as the immediate equilibrium beyond these points is statically unstable, causing the structure to snap to another equilibrium. As a result, unstable equilibria---observed numerically---are yet to be verified experimentally. Based on previous experimental work, and a virtual testing environment developed herein, we propose a new experimental continuation method that can path-follow along unstable equilibria and traverse limit points. To support these developments, we provide insightful analogies between a fundamental building block of our technique---shape control---and analysis concepts such as the principle of virtual work and Galerkin's method. The proposed testing method will enable the validation of an emerging class of nonlinear structures that exploit instabilities for novel functionality.