Modal Amplitude Stability Analysis and its application to brake squeal

The application of the proposed MASA methodology to a real industrial brake system is presented. The occurrence of unstable modes and the generation of increasing self-excited vibrations strongly depends on the initial predefined modal amplitudes. The occurrence of new unstable modes (not predicted by classical stability analysis) can be detected. Therefore the MASA methodology appears to be a good compromise in terms of computing time and ease of implementation between the classical Complex Eigenvalue Analysis (CEA) and more complex nonlinear methods (such as the Generalized Constrained Harmonic Balance Method used to predict periodic and quasi-periodic motion).