An experimental study of the impulse response of a vibro-impacting cantilever beam

We consider the dynamics of a vibro-impacting cantilever beam experiment using an impact load cell. The signal recorded from the cell produces spike train type data. We consider the issues related to the analysis of such data, particularly the sampling rate and threshold values. For vibro-impact motion of the beam, we consider the duration of impacts using a time of contact measure. We then discuss the implications for vibro-impact systems mathematically modelled using instantaneous impact assumptions (coeecient of restitution). In addition we consider using the load cell to measure impact forces for the beam system. Then we consider a delay reconstruction of the dynamics of the system using interspike intervals. We demonstrate how this process is eeected by the innuence of noise and the data acquisition process using numerical simulations of the experimental data. We show how simple periodic motions can be identiied using a probability density approach and we highlight possible future research.