Stable periodic vibroimpacts of an oscillator

The asymptotically stable vibrations of a loaded oscillator colliding periodically with a rigid mass are described. Comparison of the numerical results with the few existing examples is encouraging but inconclusive. Better overall agreement is demonstrated with fairly comprehensive measurements from a specially built experimental rig. Impact motions are shown to be very sensitive to small fluctuations in the clearance between masses and the stiffness and loading of the oscillator near its linear, or collisionless, resonant frequency. The rigid mass is quite an effective damper at or just above this frequency condition.