Identification Method of Dynamic Characteristics of Joints in Jointed Structures

In this paper, we propose a method of identifying the dynamic characteristics of joints in jointed structures. We first consider a joint model for finite element analysis. We then propose, based on the consideration, a method of identifying dynamic characteristic parameters of the joint, such as the spring stiffness and damping coefficient, with the joint model. As a result, we obtain a joint model with the spring and damping elements in vertical and tangential directions between a pair of nodes with changeable numbers and locations. The number and location of these elements can be determined so that the vibration mode and the inertance transfer function of the jointed structure obtained from finite element analysis with infinite stiffness of the spring element agree with those of the structure without joints. In addition, we identify the dynamic characteristic parameters of the joint so the experimental inertance transfer function and vibration mode agree with those obtained from the finite element analysis.