Micro-Slip as a Loss of Determinacy in Dry-Friction Oscillators

Dry-friction contacts in mechanical oscillators can be modeled using nonsmooth differential equations, and recent advances in dynamical theory are providing new insights into the stability and uniqueness of such oscillators. A classic model is that of spring-coupled masses undergoing stick-slip motion on a rough surface. Here, we present a phenomenon in which multiple masses transition from stick to slip almost simultaneously, but suffer a brief loss of determinacy in the process. The system evolution becomes many-valued, but quickly collapses back down to an infinitesimal set of outcomes, a sort of “micro-indeterminacy”. Though fleeting, the loss of determinacy means masses may each undergo different microscopic sequences of slipping events, before all masses ultimately slip. The microscopic loss of determinacy is visible in local changes in friction forces, and in creating a bistability of global stick-slip oscillations. If friction forces are coupled between the oscillators then the effect is more severe, as solutions are compressed instead onto two (or more) macroscopically different outcomes.

Cluster synchronization of dry friction oscillators

Synchronization is a well known phenomenon in non-linear dynamics and is treated as correlation in time of at least two different processes. In scope of this article, we focus on complete and cluster synchronization in the systems of coupled dry friction oscillators, coupled by linear springs. The building block of the system is the classic stick-slip oscillator, which consists of mass, spring and belt-mass friction interface. The Stribeck friction itself is modelled using Stribeck friction model with exponential non-linearity. The oscillators in the systems are connected in nearest neighbour fashion, both in open and closed ring topology. We perform a numerical study of the properties of the dynamics of the systems in question, in two-parameter space (coupling coefficient vs. angular excitation frequency) and explore the possible configurations of cluster synchronization.

Steady-state stability and bifurcations of friction oscillators due to velocity-dependent friction characteristics

This article presents an analytical investigation on stability and bifurcation behaviour due to an exponential and a generalized friction characteristics in the sliding domain of a simple friction oscillator, which is commonly referred to as ‘mass-on-a-belt’ oscillator. The friction is described by a friction coefficient which depends on the relative velocity between the two tribological partners. The standard way of examining the steady-state only gives very rough insight in the behaviour and is not able to provide further informations about the steady-state's basin of attraction or about limit-cycles. It is found that the system may undergo bifurcations of Hopf type. Hereby, the character of the bifurcations strongly depends on the parameters of the friction characteristic.