Sensitivity studies of friction-induced vibration

Friction-induced vibration is notoriously twitchy. This paper examines the origin of the sensitivity, using a model with two linear systems coupled at a single-point sliding contact where a general linearised model for dynamic frictional force is allowed. Sensitivity and convergence studies show that system uncertainty is significant enough to affect the stability of predictions and that modes neglected from the model can sensitively affect predictions. Some key results from a large-scale experimental study are presented. The integration of the uncertainty and sensitivity analysis with data-processing techniques to extract reliable data allows critical evaluation of the modelling details.