This article presents an analytical investigation on stability and local bifurcation behavior due to exponentially decaying friction characteristics in the sliding domain of a simple friction oscillator, which is commonly referred to as ''mass-on-abelt''-oscillator. Friction is described by a friction coefficient which in the sense of Stribeck depends on the relative velocity between the two tribological partners.For such a characteristic the stability and bifurcation behavior are discussed. It is shown, that the system can undergo a subcritical Hopf-bifurcation from an unstable steady-state fixed-point to an unstable limit cycle, which separates the basins of the stable steady-state fixed-point and the self-sustained stick-slip limit cycle.Therefore, only a local examination of the eigenvalues at the steady-state, as is the classical approach when investigating conditions for the onset of friction-induced vibrations, may not give the whole picture, since the stable region around the steady-state fixed-point may be rather small.Furthermore, the results of above considerations are applied to a brake-noise problem. It is found that, in contrast to squeal, a decaying friction characteristic may be a satisfying explanation for the onset low-frequency groan. The analytical results are compared with experimental measurements.

An integral equation based model for a system of piezoelectric flexible patch actuators bonded to an elastic substrate (layer or half-space) is developed. The rigorous solution to the patch-substrate dynamic contact problem extends the range of the model's utility far beyond the bounds of conventional models that rely on simplified plate, beam or shell equations for the waveguide part. The proposed approach provides the possibility to reveal the effects of resonance energy radiation associated with higher modes that would be inaccessible using models accounting for the fundamental modes only. Algorithms that correctly account for the mutual wave interaction among the actuators via the host medium, for selective mode excitation in a layer as well as for body waves directed to required zones in a half-space, have also been derived and implemented in computer code.

Like with other types of fluid bearings, rotors supported by floating ring bearings may become unstable with increasing speed of rotation due to selfexcited vibrations. In order to study the effects of the nonlinear bearing forces, within this contribution a perfectly balanced symmetric rotor is considered which is supported by two identical floating ring bearings. Here, the bearing forces are modeled by applying the short bearing theory for both fluid films. A linear stability analysis about the static equilibrium position of the rotor shows that for a critical revolution speed the real part of an eigenvalue pair changes its sign. By means of a center manifold reduction it is shown that this destabilization of the steady state is due to a Hopf-bifurcation. Furthermore, the type of this bifurcation is determined as well as the existence and stability of limit-cycles. Notably it is found that depending on the parameters of the floating ring bearing subcritical as well as supercritical bifurcations may occur. Additionally, the analytical results obtained from the center manifold reduction are compared to numerical results by a continuation method. In conclusion, the influences of bearing design parameters on the stability and on the limit-cycles are discussed.

-A mathematical model of an electromechanical system excited by piezoceramic patch actuators is developed. The model is based on the solution to the dynamic contact problem for a set of flexible strips interacting with a free elastic layer. Unlike the conventional models, which describe the mechanical part by the dynamic equations for beams, plates, or shels, the proposed model, in addition to the first fundamental modes, also takes into account the higher normal modes of an elastic waveguide. Results obtained with the proposed model and with the simplified models prove to be in good agreement in the low-frequency range. Numerical examples illustrate resonance energy radiation associated with higher modes of the laminate strip-layer structure, as well as the possibility to control its directivity.

This paper gives results on theoretical and experimental investigations concerning a linear traveling wave motor. The stator of the motor consists of straight and curved beams. A detailed finite-element analysis shows that double eigenfrequencies exist for certain ratios of length-to-radius. The excitation of the corresponding mode shapes with a temporal phase shift of leads to traveling bending waves. Due to the coupling between transverse and longitudinal motions of such a system, the axial velocities of the beam's surface points vary along the beam. An experimental prototype motor behaved according to the theoretical predictions about the dynamics of the stator.