Experimental determination of the rattle of simple models

The effect of the excitation frequency on the rattle boundaries of simple models was investigated. The frequency range investigated was from 40 to 4,000 Hz. A 1-inch steel ball was studied to determine the rattle boundary for both vertical motion and for the ball suspended as a pendulum. Effects of surface contact and weight were also studied. Results indicate that the shape of the rattle boundary depends on the particular configuration being investigated as well as the range of frequency being investigated. Although there was condiderable scatter in the data, the general trend indicates that the level of acceleration required for the onset of rattle was independent of excitation frequency.