A new distributed joint model for non-ideal supports in curved panels under large-amplitude vibrations

This study proposes a nonlinear distributed joint model for characterising stiffness of non-ideal clamped supports in initially curved panels undergoing nonlinear vibrations. The model can control the panel’s softening nonlinear response through adjusting the stiffness of the supports as a function of the slip in the contact interface. The panel is modelled as a shallow shell accounting for the initial curvature caused by the supports’ inclined angle. The panel’s equations of motions are derived via use of the generalised Hamilton’s principle and discretised using a two-dimensional Galerkin method. For the experimental part, the backbone curves for two nominally identical panels are obtained via the Phase Lock Loop method. Theoretical backbone curves for displacement and velocity of the panel’s midpoint are compared to experimental results showing very good agreement for all cases.