Vibration analysis of a hammer‐shank system

The transient motion of a hammer‐shank system is mathematically analyzed using a modified form of the Myklestad method. The hammer is modeled as a mass‐spring system with a nonconstant spring coefficient. The shank is divided into 13 elements, where each element is assumed to have a uniform cross section. The effect of the shank stiffness, the hammer velocity, and the initial deformation of the shank in the force‐time pattern applied by the hammer to an ideally rigid string are investigated. The results show that the shank deforms significantly during the hammer‐string contact period. It is also shown that the force‐time pattern changes significantly when an initial deformation of the shank is introduced. Some of the theoretical results are compared with experimental results. (This study was conducted while the author was at CBS Technology Center, Stamford, CT 06905, from 1981 to 1985.)