Bifurcation phenomena of the reversal behavior of an automobile wiper blade

Reducing the noise generated by windshield wipers during reversal is desirable. As a fundamental first step in exploring the cause of this noise, the present study attempts to theoretically and experimentally clarify the dynamics of the behavior of the wiper blade near the reversal point. First, an experiment is conducted to observe the reversal behavior using the cross sectional model of the blade rubber. In order to theoretically explain the experimentally observed phenomena, an analytical link model of the wiper blade is introduced. The reversal behavior of a blade is theoretically investigated through the bifurcation analysis by considering Coulomb??s friction during reversal. Then we show the continuous variation of the angle of blade rubber, and predict a rapid variation of the normal force, which can cause reversal noise, acting to the blade rubber.