Analysis of the Dynamic Stiffness, Hysteresis Resonances and Complex Responses for Nonlinear Spring Systems in Power-Form Order

Abstract

Power-form nonlinear contact force models are widely adopted in relatively moving parts of macro (e.g., rolling bearings considering Hertzian contact restoring force between rolling elements and bearing raceways) or micro (e.g., the micro cantilever probe system of atomic force microscopy) scale mechanical systems, and contact resonance could cause serious problems of wear, contact fatigue, vibration, and noise, which has attracted widespread attention. In the present paper, the softening/hardening stiffness characteristics of continuous and one-sided contact power-form nonlinear spring models are addressed, respectively, by the analysis of the monotone features of resonant frequency-response skeleton lines. Herein, the period-n solution branch and its stability characteristics are obtained by the harmonic balance and alternating frequency/time domain (HB–AFT) method and Floquet theory. Compared with previous studies, this paper will furtherly clarify the influences of externally normal load, the power form exponent term, and excitation amplitude on the softening/hardening stiffness characteristics of general power-form spring systems. In addition, for a power-form system with a one-sided contact, the phenomena of primary and super/sub-harmonic hysteretic resonances inducing period-doubling, folding bifurcation, the coexistence of multiple solutions are demonstrated. Besides, it gives the evolution mechanism of two types of intermittency chaos in a one-sided contact system. The overall results may have certain basic theoretical significance and engineering values for the control of vibration and noise in contact mechanical systems.