Numerical and experimental study of vibrations in a non-smooth electromechanical system

The effects of discontinuity in the elasticity and damping on the dynamics of a non-smooth electromechanical system are numerically and experimentally studied in this paper. The amplitude curves are obtained, bifurcation diagrams, phase portraits, and time traces showing the transition from periodic to chaotic motion. A prototype device is designed and built. The experimental results of this device are consistent with results from theoretical investigation and convincingly show the phenomenon of discontinuity, bifurcation and chaos. The non-smooth electromechanical system proposed and studied in this paper can be used for drilling, cutting and vibration absorber.