Periodic response of a sliding oscillator system to harmonic excitation

Abstract

Abstract This paper deals with the periodic response of an oscillating system which is supported on a frictional interface. The base excitation is assumed harmonic and the frictional force is assumed to be of the Coulomb type. Though each segment of the motion of such a system is described by linear equations, its complete response is highly non‐linear and varied. The most fundamental periodic solutions are derived analytically and numerically. The results indicate that such a system has several subharmonic resonant frequencies and that while the friction reduces the peak response of the system when it is excited at its ‘fixed‐base’ natural frequency, ω n , the sliding can induce considerably higher levels of response, when compared with those of a non‐sliding, fixed‐base system, for frequencies less than ω n . The results obtained herein may find application in the area of vibration isolation.