Nonlinear numerical analysis of a cam-follower impacting system

In this paper we present the piecewise smooth model, simulation and numerical nonlinear analysis of a cam-follower impacting system, characterized by a cam with non-smooth profile - a discontinuous second derivate - and a follower modeled as a rod pendulum. The model include three main dynamical modes, free body mode, sliding mode and impacting mode. We will show the description of the algorithm to simulate cam-follower impacting systems. The algorithm was developed under an event driven strategy and implemented in Matlab. Regarding the numerical analysis we have studied the chattering accumulation of impacts coexistence of solutions, smooth and nonsmooth bifurcations and other nonlinear phenomena that this kind of systems can exhibit. Additionally, we build a bifurcation diagram under variation of cam rotation speed. The most notable phenomenon is the corner impact bifurcation. This one occur when the follower impact just at the discontinuity point of the cam. These results are a complement to other studies it have been done in cam-follower impacting systems. We are looking for an experimental verification as additional to the numerical validation of those phenomena mentioned before.