Periodic Response of a Link Coupling With Clearance

Abstract

The nonlinear, steady-state response of a displacement-forced link coupling with clearance with finite stiffness is determined. The solution procedure is derived from satisfying the boundary conditions at the contact points and then solving the resulting nonlinear algebraic equations by setting the duration of contact as a parameter. This direct approach to determining periodic solutions for systems with clearances with finite stiffness is substantially more efficient than numerical integration schemes. Results in terms of contact forces and durations of contact are pertinent to fatigue and wear studies. Parametric relations are presented for effects of the variation of damping, stiffness, exciting displacement, and gap length on the dynamic behavior of the link pair.