A Numerical Study of Non-Symmetric Joints
A great deal of analytical, numerical, and experimental research has focused on characterizing symmetric lap-type joints, in which the joint connects dynamic systems with nominally the same descriptions. In this paper, we numerically examine dynamically non-symmetric jointed structures. Starting with the analytical treatments of Pratt and Williams (1981) as verification of our simulation model and approach, we then introduce structural stiffness asymmetries ranging from small perturbations to large differences. The results are presented in both the time and frequency domains, and the role of the dynamic asymmetry is critically examined. The results of this numerical study suggest that both the relative displacement profile and the stick-slip behavior at the joint are sensitive to the dynamics of the two substructures, with frequency tuning of the substructures being an important indicator of joint performance.