Complex response of an oscillating vertical cantilever with clearance

Abstract

We study the dynamics of an elastic inverted pendulum with amplitude limiters excited horizontally. This particular model corresponds to a class of systems where a clearance is present naturally as an effect of imperfect clamping or it is included to tailor the response. We explore the complex responses of the system for a fixed value of amplitude clearance. The simulation and experimental results are analysed by a 0–1 test, Fourier, and wavelet transforms. The results show that the system can vibrate with subharmonic solution where the main response frequency of a flexible beam is 3 times lower than the excitaion frequency. We claim that an inverted pendulum with imperfect clamping of mechanical resonator can be used in broad frequency band energy harvesting.