Experimental bifurcation analysis for hybrid testing methods 2

In hybrid testing a critical system component (such as aircraft landing gear or bridge cable) is tested in the laboratory as if it were part of amuch larger system. The missing part of the larger system (the restof the aircraft or bridge) is simulated numerically on a computer andcoupled to the critical component via sensors and actuators.We plan to unlock the full potential of this numerical-experimentaltesting technique by developing novel mathematically-inspired toolsthat will allow one to automatically find and then track stabilityboundaries in relevant system parameters. This will constitute a majorstep forward from the present approach of changing a single parameterstep-by-step and then recording what happens. We propose to develop and implement these new methods for two mechanical test bed systems of fundamental relevance, namely, adriven pendulum-oscillator and a magneto-rheological damper system.