Friction-induced vibration: Quantifying sensitivity and uncertainty

The limited success of predictive models of friction-induced vibration can, in part, be attributed to the inherent sensitivity of friction-coupled systems to variations, often uncontrolled, in parameter values such as the friction coefficient. This paper explores the sensitivity and uncertainty of predictions from a modal point of view, using models of a realistic complexity. A method for efficiently estimating prediction error bounds is presented and validated using representative parametric uncertainties. Measurement uncertainties are quantified providing an input for the error-bound analysis. Taken together, this forms the foundation for a direct comparison of predictions with experimental results from sliding contact tests.