Extension of the single-nonlinear-mode theory by linear attachments and application to exciter-structure interaction

Under certain conditions, the dynamics of a nonlinear mechanical system can be repre-sented by a single nonlinear modal oscillator. This holds, in particular, under external ex-citation near primary resonance or under self-excitation by negative damping of the re-spective mode. The properties of the modal oscillator can be determined by computational or experimental nonlinear modal analysis. The simplification to a single-nonlinear-mode model facilitates qualitative and global analysis, and substantially reduces the computa-tional effort required for probabilistic methods and design optimization. Important limi-tations of this theory are that only purely mechanical systems can be analyzed and that the respective nonlinear mode has to be recomputed when the system's structural proper-ties are varied. With the theoretical extension proposed in this work, it becomes feasible to attach linear subsystems to the primary mechanical system, and to approximate the dynamics of this coupled system using only the nonlinear mode of the primary mechani-cal system. The attachments must be described by linear ordinary or differential-algebraic equations with time-invariant coefficient matrices. The attachments do not need to be of purely mechanical nature, but may contain, for instance, electric, magnetic, acoustic, ther-mal or aerodynamic models. This considerably extends the range of utility of nonlinear modes to applications as diverse as model updating or vibration energy harvesting. As long as the attachments do not significantly deteriorate the host system's modal deflection shape, it is shown that their effect can be reduced to a complex-valued modal impedance and an imposed modal forcing term. In the present work, the proposed approach is com-putationally assessed for the analysis of exciter-structure interaction. More specifically, the force drop typically encountered in frequency response testing is revisited. A cantilevered beam with cubic spring and an attached electro-dynamical shaker serves as benchmark. The proposed approach shows excellent accuracy. Mainly the already known limitations of single-nonlinear-mode theory reappear. In particular, higher harmonics should not be too pronounced. In the transient case, the time scales of vibration and amplitude-phase mod-ulation should be well separated, and the attachment dynamics should be in quasi-steady state. (c) 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

The paper introduces the representation and application of a nonlinear modal oscillator in mechanical system dynamics, proposing a method to simplify the system to a single nonlinear modal model with attached linear subsystems, expanding the practical range of nonlinear modes. Care should be taken to avoid significant higher harmonics and ensure quasi-steady state conditions for attachment dynamics.