Experimental study of the nonlinear characteristics of an axially moving string

This paper presents an experimental study of the nonlinear characteristics of an axially moving string. An experimental system with a simple configuration, which is similar to a practical application, was built. Two laser sensors were used to monitor the vertical and horizontal vibrations of the moving string under different conditions. Using the Hilbert-Huang transform method, the detailed results of a typical measured data series, which include intrinsic mode decomposition, Hilbert spectrum and marginal spectrum, are introduced. For comparison, marginal spectra for almost all test cases are also given. Based on the results, several observed nonlinear phenomena, which include whirling motion, resonances, quasiperiodical and a beating motion, torus doublings and one chaotic motion, are presented. The quantitative nonlinear vibrating details and the observed rich behaviors help explain the great complexity of a single moving string.