Lab Facilities

Welcome to the laboratory page of the nonlinear dynamics website. A variety of relatively small-scale experiments have been conducted with the goal of illuminating interesting nonlinear behavior. The Shake Table Setup The principal work horse for the group's dynamical experiments involve the use of this shake table which has a frequency range from 0 to approximately 3 Hz.

The shake table platform. Video: High amplitude resonannt oscillation in the Duffing system [mpeg 0.5Mb]. Chaotic oscillations [mpeg 0.9Mb]. Chaotic oscillations [mpeg 1.8Mb].	The scotch yoke amplitude mechanism. Video: A movie of the scotch yoke forcing mechanism can be found by clicking at the bottom of this page.
Potential Well Models The group has used several forms of potential wells on the shake table in its research. Below are four examples.

The Duffing Track which models duffings equation (a spring-mass-damper system with a cubic spring).	The escape version of Duffing's equation. Under the correct parametric conditions the cart can escape from the left potential well.

A potential model of a linear spring-mass-damper system with an impact barrier.	The cart or roller coaster car that rides in the potential wells.
Pendulumns The group has used several forms of pendulumns in its research. Below are four examples.

The double pendulumn can show remarkably complicated dynamic motion.	The impacting pendulumn is an excellent experimental platform to study impacts and grazing bifurcations.

The spring pendulumn is a simple pendulumn with a spring connected to a mass at the end of the pendulumn. This adds an additional dimension to the problem.	While not a traditional pendulumn, the rocking block provides an interesting platform to study impacts and oscillations.