On the detection of nonlinear normal mode-related isolated branches of periodic solutions for high-dimensional nonlinear mechanical systems with frictionless contact interfaces

This contribution introduces a methodology for the detection of isolated branches of periodic solutions to the nonlinear mechanical equation of motion for systems featuring frictionless contact interfaces. This methodology relies on a harmonic balance method-based solving procedure combined with the application of the Melnikov energy principle. It is able to predict the location of isolated branches of solutions in the vicinity of families of autonomous periodic solutions, namely nonlinear normal modes. The methodology is first applied on a two-degree-of-freedom phenomenological system in order to illustrate its relevance and accuracy. In particular, for this academic application, the proposed methodology yields an understanding of the discontinuous evolution of the first nonlinear resonance frequency as the forcing amplitude increases. Isolated branches of solutions featuring high amplitudes of vibration are detected far beyond nonlinear resonance frequencies obtained with a typical application of the harmonic balance method coupled with an arc-length continuation algorithm. Demonstration of the applicability of the proposed methodology to high-dimensional industrial finite element models is made with the nonlinear vibration analysis of a transsonic compressor blade, NASA rotor 37, subjected to an harmonic loading and blade-tip/casing structural contacts. The proposed methodology yields numerous isolated branches of solutions, which relevance is assessed by means of time integration simulations. In the end, the presented results underline that typical continuation algorithms may yield a significant underestimation of nonlinear resonance frequencies.