Non-linear behavior in a discretely forced oscillator

The simulated and experimental responses of a rigid-arm pendulum driven by an external impactor are considered. Here, impact occurs if the trajectory of a rotating impactor intersects that of the pendulum. Using the rotation rate of the impactor as the control parameter, experimental trials have demonstrated much of the dynamic behavior predicted by numerical simulations. The system exhibits chatter (i.e., multiple impacts within a single forcing period), sticking (i.e., contact between the pendulum and the impactor for non-negligible amounts of time), high-order periodicity, and behavior suggestive of chaos. A new convention for classifying periodic motions as well as insights regarding the nature of the coefficient of restitution (COR) in an experimental impacting system are also presented. © 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.