Experimental determination and study of structural damping and dry friction

Abstract

The challenge that will be posed to researchers for an even longer period is the development of a predictable model for describing mechanical connections, their variable stiffness and dissipative contact interaction processes. The main challenge to this goal lies in the lack of understanding of how friction behaves on a small scale. Coulomb friction, a large heuristic model is not predictable and has actually been proven to be untrue in many modes. Expecting a universal law of friction for all types of materials and therefore contact interactions is not very realistic. Instead, the goal of the international research community is to develop a predictable model for a limited range of cases. So far, the metal-metal contact is most often tested, respectively the contact interaction behaviour of aluminium and steel elements of different quality. We also know that in the application those two metals are most often found in making mechanical connections. The aim of this paper is to make a brief overview of some of the previous tests and approaches to the study of contact interaction in mechanical connections and the role of friction in energy dissipation.