title: Note: A kinematic shaker system for high amplitude, low frequency vibration testing.
abstract: This note describes a shaker system capable of high peak-velocity, large amplitude, low frequency, near-sinusoidal excitation that has been constructed and employed in experiments on the inhibition of Rayleigh-Bénard convection using acceleration modulation. The production of high peak-velocity vibration is of interest in parametric excitation problems of this type and reaches beyond the capabilities of standard electromagnetic shakers. The shaker system described employs a kinematic linkage to two counter-rotating flywheels, driven by a variable-speed electrical motor, producing peak-to-peak displacements of 15.24 cm to a platform mounted on two guide rails. In operation, this shaker has been demonstrated to produce peak speeds of up to 3.7 m/s without failure.
authors.affiliation: Graduate Program in Acoustics, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, USA.
authors.forename: Anand
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Swaminathan
authors.affiliation: Applied Research Laboratory, The Pennsylvania State University, State College, Pennsylvania 16804, USA.
authors.forename: Matthew E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Poese
authors.affiliation: Applied Research Laboratory, The Pennsylvania State University, State College, Pennsylvania 16804, USA.
authors.forename: Robert W M
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.affiliation: Graduate Program in Acoustics, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, USA.
authors.forename: Steven L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Garrett