Abstract

This paper compares the use of two impact simulation methods for two-degree-of-freedom nonlinear vibroimpact systems with rigid and soft impacts. These methods are (I) impact simulation by boundary conditions with the use of Newton's restitution coefficient based on stereomechanic shock theory and (II) impact simulation by contact interaction force based on quasistatic Hertz's contact theory. It is shown that both methods are applied and give the coinciding results for system with elastic rigid impact under periodic external loading. Loading curves built by parameter continuation method are confirming this result. Impact simulation by the second method is also fulfilled for vibroimpact system with rigid impact under random external loading. For vibroimpact system with soft impact, the simulation of impact by the second method gives a better result. The application of linear elastic force as contact one is possible too but the use of Hertz's contact force is more preferable. The authors consider that the impact simulation by Hertz contact interaction force gives good results for nonlinear vibroimpact systems with impacts of any kind if all limitations with Hertz's law used are observed.

1. Introduction

Impact and vibroimpact devices are widely used in engineering. Their use is described convincingly and in detail in [1]. Therefore vibroimpact processes dynamics in mechanical systems is the investigation subject of special interest that predetermines study of motion and contact interaction forces between bodies in vibroimpact systems. Such investigations are developed extensively during the last 50 years. Many monographs and papers were devoted to this topic, for example, well-known monographs [24]. But one can face the big difficulties while solving some real and several theoretical tasks. And impact processes investigations are continued at the present too. Among the contemporary publications we want to underline such encyclopedic works as Ivanov’s [5], Ibrahim’s [6], and Stronge’s [7] monographs. A big attention is paid to stability studying in systems with impacts, periodic motions bifurcations, grazing bifurcations, singularities at vibroimpact dynamics, and other specific problems [2, 812]. Let us note by a way that Ibrahim’s research monograph [6] is followed by the list of over 1100 references!

From our point of view the question about impact simulation way, that is, the impact rule, is not of little importance in the time of the vibroimpact processes dynamics investigations. Ivanov in [5] writes; “The choice of this or other impact model for exact problem solution is connected with compromise between simplicity and realistic approach. However, one can achieve it rarely at practice.” Ivanov calls three model groups the most known for collinear bodies’ impact, which is examined in this paper. Firstly it is stereomechanical shock theory which considers that the period of contact is vanishingly small, so the impact is instantaneous. This theory uses the boundary conditions about discontinuous change in bodies’ velocities at impact and considers that the bodies are absolutelt hard and don’t have any deformation in collision. To write the impact rule one can take Newton’s coefficient of restitution which is considered to be constant and is determined by materials of the colliding bodies. It does not depend on velocity of bodies’ rapprochement or on any other circumstances. Now the development of this theory is connected with making the restitution coefficient more precise while it is not considered to be constant. The second is the elastic wave theory which considers the ties between bodies’ points and their relative displacements that is, the bodies are not absolutely hard. The third is the group of various discrete models. Discrete models often consider the rigid body as the set of finite elements with relatively simple mechanical properties. The quasistatic Hertz’s contact theory is the discrete model too. This theory may be generalized by the addition of the viscous friction.

The collisions and impacts between elements occur many times in vibroimpact systems. Classic impact simulation by stereomechanical shock theory with Newton’s restitution coefficient use is widespread now and used in many works, for example [1315], when the vibroimpact systems motion is investigated. This method was used when the piecewise linear oscillators impacts were studied in [1620]. Ibrahim in [6] describes the methods of vibroimpact systems modeling and analysis, in particurar, Zhuravlev nonsmooth coordinate transformation [21], Ivanov transformation [8], and pointwise mapping [2, 3, 18]. “The main rationale of such coordinate transformation is to convert the vibroimpact oscillator into an oscillator without barriers such that the corresponding equation of motion does not contain any impact terms” [6]. Instantaneous velocity change calculated through restitution coefficient is assumed as impact rule in these methods. However the coefficient of restitution is not constant; it depends on bodies’ rapprochement velocity or on the impact duration.

Simulation based on the stereomechanical shock theory considers that impact is instantaneous and neglects the bodies’ motion and their deformation during impact, so it does not allow one to write down traffic equations for all timebases, to determine real impact duration and contact force value. One uses another way of impact simulation for vibroimpact systems investigation. This is a “more realistic model of impact process, the Hertz contact law” [22], an impact simulation based on quasistatic Hertz contact theory. Hertz theory considers that impact is elastic, local bodies’ deformations are only in contact zone, and the bodies are restricted by the “Hertzian” curve surfaces in contact zone [23, 24]. Contact interaction force is acting only during impact and is absent for the rest ot the time while moving and does not depend on deformation velocity. It is described equally both at dynamic and at static states, so such theories are called quasistatic. The use of Hertz contact force allows to determine both impact duration and impact force value and to find the law of its time change. This approach allows to develop and to analyze the common form of motion equations for vibroimpact systems elements and to describe the full set of realized movements on all timebase, including the impact time. In such works as [6, 7, 25] the authors describe the use and limitations of this theory. The Hertz theory is used for impact rule writing in [2628], for example, for single-degree-of-freedom vibroimpact systems more often.

Some of the principle differences between rigid and soft contacts are formulated in [29]. The main difference is the impact duration time. The principles of vibroimpact systems classification, which are proposed in [30], distinguish the systems with rigid and soft limiting stops. Exactly this aspect is connected with possible modes of the impact simulation. Generally saying, there is no clear criterion to say which constraint is rigid and which one is soft. The key is the stiffness coefficient-impact transience and its power is determined by the contacting bodies’ rigidity. It is considered that period of contact is vanishingly small and impact is instantaneous in systems with rigid constraints. The assumption about impact instantaneity is not true in systems with soft constraints; the impact duration is considerable.

The main aim of this paper is to compare the possibility of two impact simulation methods used for two kinds of two-degree-of-freedom vibroimpact systems, systems with rigid and soft impacts. These methods are (I) impact simulation by boundary conditions with Newton’s restitution coefficient based on stereomechanic shock theory and (II) impact simulation by contact interaction force based on quasistatic Hertz contact theory.

To achieve the main goal, three auxiliary tasks were posed: (1)to verify the possibility and evaluate the quality of impact simulation by linear elastic force for soft impact, (2)to evaluate the quality of impact simulation by Hertz force under both periodic and random external loadings for rigid impact, (3)to build the loading curves by parameter continuation method when impact-simulating by both methods and to compare these curves.

2. Design Models and Movement Equations of Vibroimpact Systems

We consider that impacts between bodies at these vibroimpact systems occur with low velocities, without friction; that is, there are low speed impacts [5, 7]. The bodies are smooth, without roughness. We consider that the bodies are restricted by curve surfaces, so the real surface geometry may be approximated by “Hertzian” geometry.

The first model of the vibroimpact system with rigid impact is formed by the main body and attached one, which can play the role of percussive or nonpercussive dynamic damper (Figure 1).

Bodies are connected by linear elastic springs and dampers, and the main body is subjected to the action of periodical external force (except in Section 4.2):

The origin of coordinate is chosen in the main body mass center in such state when all springs are not deformed. The initial distance between bodies in such state is . The system structure is transforming while moving due to its dynamic states changes forced by the impact contacts between elements.

Movement equations of the system have the form where , , , , , and is the contact interaction force which is modelling the impact and is acting only during the impact. This member is absent in the movement equations while the impact is simulated by the boundary conditions. Numerical parameters of this vibroimpact system are given in Table 1.

The second model of vibroimpact system with soft impact is corresponding to the calculation scheme of vibroimpact platform, which is widely used in building industry for concrete mix compaction and concrete products forming (Figure 2).

Platform table with mass is secured to base by linear vibroisolation spring with stiffness . Exiting external periodic force (1) is generated by electric motors mounted under the table. Elastic rubber block (soft constraint) with thickness and linear stiffness is attached to the table. Form with concrete with mass is placed on this rubber block but is not fixed both to the block and to the table and thus can be torn off. Starting from equilibrium both the form and the table are beginning their joint vertical motion until the form is separated from the table. Being detached they are moving separately until the form falls down on the rubber block. Impact occurs and bodies again start moving together until the form is torn off the rubber block and so forth. The origin of coordinate is chosen in the platform table center in the state of its static equilibrium.

Primary initial joint movement of the table and of the form is described by the equations

The vibroimpact movement is the separate bodies’ motion during the form tearing off from the rubber block and the joint bodies’ motion at the time of impact when form is falling down to the rubber block. This process is described by the equations:

Here we introduced the standard indication: , , , , , , is the contact interaction force; this member is absent in the movement equations when impact-simulating by boundary conditions, , and is the Heaviside step function, and it is determined as

The contact force is modeling the impact and is acting only during the impact. It is described by formula (8) and (9) (see further) which contain Heviside function.

Taking into account the significant influence of the resistance forces on the vibroimpact platform dynamics, three resistance forces are introduced: in the concrete mix, in the rubber block, and in the vibroisolation spring. The forces of friction, cohesion, and viscous resistance must be overcame at complex process of vibration condensation. This circumstance causes the investigation of viscous resistance forces and lowering of their importance at vibration influence. A series of investigators search this problem [31]. Resistance forces are assumed as proportional to the first degree of velocity with coefficients , , and . Numerical parameters of vibroimpact platform are assumed as the normative literature prescribes [31] and are presented in Table 2. The values of damper coefficients are absent in [31]. Therefore we choose these coefficients in general use according to [32]. We have examined the influence of resistance forces on vibroimpact systems dynamics [33]. We have determined that the changes of damper coefficients , , and in general use [32] does not change the platform table semiamplitudes practically and changed contact force value a little.

3. Impact Simulation by Boundary Conditions

Impact simulated by boundary conditions at the moment of impact is considered to be instantaneous. Joint bodies’ motion during the impact is not taken into account; both bodies displacements are identical, and velocities are changing in jumps. Boundary conditions based on the stereomechanic shock theory for the first model with rigid impact (Figure 1) are as follows: where , , , and are both bodies’ displacements and velocities before the impact and , , , and are displacements and velocities after the impact. is Newton’s coefficient of restitution which is considered to be constant and is determined by materials of the colliding bodies. It does not depend on velocity of bodies’ rapprochement or on any other circumstances. It could take values ranging from zero to one.

By the numerical integration of motion equations (2) we can obtain the movement picture—both system bodies’ displacements and their phase trajectories after the transient process (for ) (Figure 3). Numerical integration was fulfilled by Runge-Kutta 4th order method. It is seen that steady-state oscillation regime has one impact during period, and bodies’ velocities in the time of impact are changing in jumps. At the displacements plot we see well that the attached body (thin line) jumps away from the main one (thick line) during impacts.

The loading curves (Figure 4) were plotted for this model in a steady-state regime by parameter continuation method [34]. They show oscillation semiamplitude dependence on the intensity parameter of external periodical loading presented as

Semiamplitude for nonharmonic oscillation is calculated by the formula .

Let us pay attention to curves shape when is small. Let us compare Figure 4 with Figure 10. In Figure 4 there are no curves when , while Figure 9 there are ones. Vibration regime at such values is unlocked. That is why we cannot find the semiamplitude values when impact-simulating by boundary conditions at impact moment because the impact is absent.

The boundary conditions for the second model with soft impact (Figure 2) are similar to the ones for the first model (6).

Both bodies’ displacements and their phase trajectories at are presented in Figure 5: (a) displacements and , (b) displacesments and , (c) phase trajectories for platform table, and (d) phase trajectories for form which are corresponding to Figure 5(a).

After transient period the vibration mode is found to be non-steady-state. Phase trajectories, plotted for the oscillation process without transient period, are demonstrating this fact.

Maximum semiamplitude value for the platform table without transient period is  mm. This value is higher than real experimental value (up to  mm) which is given in [31]. Restitution coefficient applying less than 1 ( and less) does not make it possible to calculate the correct motion of the vibroimpact platform bodies. Figure 6 () is confirming this assertion.

We can see that the impact is absent and the motion is non-steady-state. This picture does not correspond to reality. Thus the impact modeling by boundary conditions for this model with soft impact does not give real motion picture and is found to be unsuccessful.

4. Impact Simulation by the Contact Interaction Force

Contact interaction force between bodies is taken into consideration when the impact is modeled in such way. This force acts only during the impact. It may be described by different laws, both linear and nonlinear.

4.1. Linear Elastic Force

The usage of linear elastic force as a contact one [35, 36] could be shown for the second vibroimpact platform model (with soft impact). In this case it can be described as where and is the Heaviside function.

Both platform bodies’ displacements are shown in Figure 7(a): and . The contact force (black line) and external periodic loading (gray line) are shown at Figure 7(b), the phase trajectory for platform table in Figure 7(c), and for form with concrete in Figure 7(d). Due to impact softness the local deformations in contact zone are large. That is why the bodies “penetrate” one into another (Figure 7(a)).

Vibroimpact oscillation regime reaches steadystate after a short transient process. The contact force maximum value and table vibration semiamplitude are, respectively,  N and  mm. Let us pay attention to the contact force graphic: it has the “bell” form in each impact. Such graphic form demonstrates long impact duration (compared with Figure 8). Impact duration characterizes the impact softness or hardness. When impact duration is large we cannot consider such impact as instantaneous. That is why the impact simulation by boundary conditions does not give good results: stereomechanic theory considers the impact to be instantaneous.

4.2. Nonlinear Hertz Force

The use of Hertz’s contact force for impact simulation is based on quasistatic Hertz’s theory [6, 7, 2325, 37]. “Hertz first developed this quasistatic theory for elastic deformation localized near the contact patch and applied it to the collision of solid bodies with spherical contact surfaces” [7]. This theory takes into account only local deformations. The colliding bodies are smooth, without roughness, restricted by curve surfaces. Hertz’s law allows, in particular, taking into account more completely and detailed colliding bodies’ mechanical characteristics: where is the relative closing in of bodies, for the first model and for the second model, , , and are constants characterizing the local geometry of the contact zone, and are, respectively, Poisson’s ratios and Young’s modulus for both bodies, and is the Heaviside step function.

Two types of the external load—periodic (1) and random—were considered for the first model with rigid impact. We used a model of stationary random process with hidden periodicity as a load during the numerical investigation of the vibroimpact system random oscillations. Single-sided spectral density of this process can be described by the formula [38] where is the process variance, is the characteristic process frequency, is the correlation parameter, and is the frequency of special decomposition. Random load with the spectral density of this type is affecting, for example, ground transport machines [38], the deep-drilling equipment, and so forth. From the theory of random processes it is known [39] that the realization of a stationary random process (it is the random loading in our case) can be computed according to its spectral density by the formula where is the harmonic components number and are the initial phases, which are random numbers uniformly distributed inside the interval to . Random load characteristics were chosen as ,  rad s−1,  rad s−1,  N, and 0.2 rad s−1.

The contact interaction force after Hertz’s law (9) depends both on colliding bodies materials and on local geometry of contact area. We consider that the surfaces of both bodies in the first model with rigid impact are spherical of radii and . Then constants and are found as , and constant depends on relation , [23, 24]. Let us choose  m and  m. Then numerical parameters of vibroimpact system are given in Table 3.

Main characteristics of the steady-state system vibrations under harmonic action are shown in Figures 8(a) and 8(b) and under stochastic one in Figures 8(c) and 8(d). Time dependence plots of the colliding bodies’ displacements (Figures 8(a) and 8(c)) are clearly showing both the impact and rebound of the attached body from the main one after the impact. Time dependence plots of the contact forces acting at the moment of impact are presented in Figures 8(b) and 8(d). Therefore, the impact simulation by the contact interaction force which is varying according to the Hertz law gives good results for the model with rigid impact. It enables us to get the law of vibroimpact system motion for all timebases (including the impact period) both for harmonic and stochastic loadings.

One of the principal restrictions for the force described by the Hertz law is the fact that it simulates elastic impact. We now will compare results obtained for the harmonic load in impact modeling by the contact interaction force and by the boundary conditions method for vibroimpact system with rigid impact. For restitution coefficient the results obtained with these methods are coinciding with an accuracy up to four decimal digits. For we observe a small deviation between the results. Figure 9 is showing the motion of system’s bodies (main body: thick line, attached one: thin line) for (black line) and (gray line). Displacements which were obtained at impact simulation by contact force are merging with curves for . It is seen that even for a small restitution coefficient , the difference between amplitudes does not exceed for the main body and is lower than for the attached one.

Thus despite idealized assumptions about impact elasticity, the Hertz contact theory secures reliable results at the investigations of the vibroimpact systems oscillatory movement upon the whole timebase.

For vibroimpact system with rigid impact the loading curves were created in Chapter 3 (see Figure 4). Those curves were created when impact was simulated by boundary conditions. Now we create the loading curves for this model with rigid impact under periodical external loading (7) in steady-state regime (Figures 10 and 11). Now impact is simulated by contact Hertz force. The curves are created by parameter continuation method. We want to compare the loading curves for the model with rigid impact, which were created when impact is simulated by these two methods. We see that the loading curves obtained by using impact simulation with the Hertz force and shown in Figure 10 are identical to curves obtained by impact simulation with boundary conditions and shown in Figure 4. Once more let us pay attention to curves shape when is small. Let us compare Figure 10 with Figure 4. In Figure 4 there were no curves when , while in Figure 10 there are ones. Vibration regime at such values is unlocked. That is why we could not find the semiamplitude values when impact-simulating by boundary conditions at impact moment. Now when impact-simulating by contact interaction force, we can obtain the full picture of vibroimpact system bodies movement at the whole timebase when the impacts occur and when they do not occur. Such coincidence shows that both methods of impact simulation guarantee the identical results for vibroimpact system with rigid impact.

We have pointed out before that the contact interaction force after Hertz’s law (9) depends both on colliding bodies’ materials and on local geometry of contact area. We consider that the surface of the upper body (form with concrete) in the second model with soft impact is a plane and the surface of the lower one (rubber block) is the sphere of big radius . Then constants and are found as , and constant depends on relation , [23, 24]. Let us choose m. Then numerical parameters of vibroimpact platform are given in Table 4.

The movement picture for the second model with soft impact under periodical external loading (1) is presented in Figure 11.

Both platform bodies’ displacements are shown in Figure 11(a): and . The contact force (black line) and external load (gray line) are shown at Figure 11(b), the phase trajectory for platform table—in Figure 11(c), and for form with concrete—in Figure 11(d). Due to impact softness the local deformations in contact zone are large. At Figure 11(a) we can see how the bodies “penetrate” one into another. The Hertz contact theory takes into account the local bodies’ deformations in contact zone. Figure 11 confirms this fact: we see the big deformation of soft rubber block and great penetration of the upper body into the lower.

Let us see how the values of contact force and the platform table vibration semiamplitudes depend on sphere radius of rubber block. These values in steady-state regimes are given in Table 5.

Table 5 shows that the decrease of rubber block sphere radius diminishes the contact force and the table semiamplitudes. Hence one can have influence on the values of contact interaction force and the platform vibration semiamplitudes by making the rubber block spherical and selecting this sphere radius.

Comparing Figures 8(a), 8(b), 11(a), and 11(b), we can see that the single-impact steady-state -periodical oscillation regime is achieved for both models. Contact force diagrams (Figures 8(b) and 11(b)) are obviously demonstrating the impact instantaneity for the model with rigid impact and enough impact duration for the model with soft one.

Comparison of results obtained at the impact simulation by elastic force (Section 4.1) and Hertz force shows that contact force maximum values and semiamplitude of platform table oscillation are the same at a quite large value of rubber block elasticity modulus, namely, at  N . At the same time the values obtained for the possibly smallest values are closer to real values of platform table semiamplitudes (up to  mm) [31, 36] (Table 6). It is known, that the rubber elasticity modulus is less than the steels one by four orders. Hence for this model the Hertz force simulates impact better than the elastic one. We notice by the way that the value of rubber block elasticity modulus influences visibly the value of contact interaction force. It becomes larger when this elasticity modulus increases (Table 6).

In [31] there are the values of platform table semiamplitudes which were obtained by an experimental study. These values are in diapason 2–2.5 mm. Our results by definite values of parameters (see Tables 5 and 6) are like them. We have fulfilled many numerical experiments [33, 40], which have given the positive results. For example we will give here the results of one experiment (Figures 12 and 13).

We have investigated the dependence of vibration bodies’ semiamplitudes for vibroimpact system with soft impact on upper body mass . The impact was simulated by Hertz contact force. It is shown in Figure 12. The mark means periodic vibration with impacts per cycle: -periodical with impact, -periodical with impacts, and -periodical with impact per cycle. Here is the the period of external load.

This numerical experiment has given adequate results.

Let us compare elastic and Hertz’s forces more in detail. Figure 14 is showing contact force dependence from time and from bodies’ rapprochement during single impact period. Contact force is shown in three cases: elastic force (curves 1 in Figure 14) and Hertz’s force at  N m−2 (curves 2) and at  N m−2 (curves 3).

5. Conclusions

(1)Comparison of two impact simulation methods used for two-degree-of-freedom nonlinear vibroimpact systems with rigid and soft impacts was fulfilled. These methods are (I) impact simulation by boundary conditions with Newton’s restitution coefficient based on stereomechanic shock theory and (II) impact simulation by contact interaction force based on quasistatic Hertz contact theory. We research low speed frictionless impacts. The bodies are smooth, without roughness, and are restricted by curve surfaces, so the real surface geometry may be approximated by “Hertzian” geometry. The comparison shows the following: (i) both methods give coinciding results for vibroimpact system with elastic rigid impact under periodic external loading. These results were obtained by numerical integration of motion equations by Runge-Kutta 4th order method,(ii) loading curves built by parameter continuation method for system with rigid impact coincide completely with impact simulation by both methods,(iii) impact simulation by the first method for vibroimpact system with soft impact is not successful. The impact modeling by the second method is more preferable to such model. Linear elastic force can be used as contact interaction force too, but the use of nonlinear Hertz contact force gives a better result. (2)Impact simulation by contact interaction force based on Hertz’s law has a series of advantages: (i) the method allows getting the full picture of vibroimpact system bodies movement at the whole timebase including the impact phase,(ii) it allows to get a contact force modification graph and its maximum value,(iii) constructions of parameter continuation method are getting simplified, (iv) Hertz force used as a contact force makes it possible to take into account more accurately and precisely the colliding bodies’ mechanical characteristics.

A clear criterion of impact rigidity or softness does not exist. This criterion is determined by the impact duration, depending on how much momentarily it can be accepted. Therefore the authors consider that the impact simulation by Hertz contact interaction force is sufficiently successful for vibroimpact systems with impacts of any kind if all limitations with Hertz’s law used are observed.