Experimental nonlinear response of tapered ceramic matrix composite plates to base excitation

The geometric nonlinear response of a tapered, clamped ceramic matrix composite (CMC) panel to narrowband Gaussian random excitations was investigated. The effects of the coupling between the bending and axial strain response, resulting from the through-the-thickness asymmetry of the panel taper were observed. The axial strain power spectral density (PSD) exhibited sharp peaks at the primarily bending natural frequencies of the panel.