Human–structure interaction during rhythmic jumping on rectangular plates subjected to time-dependent base excitation

Abstract

This study examines the dynamic interaction between a human jumper and a thin rectangular plate subjected to time-dependent base excitation. The plate is modeled using the nonlinear von Kármán theory, while a one-degree-of-freedom spring–mass–damper (SMD) system is employed to represent the human biodynamic response. A detailed parametric investigation, grounded in piecewise-smooth contact dynamics, explores the effects of contact loss during the flight phase of jumping cycles. Various jumping strategies and the response of the plate are analyzed for incremental values of the human damping ratio, excitation frequency, and base excitation amplitude. The results reveal the emergence of chaotic responses, hysteresis phenomena, and coexisting attractors, underscoring the system’s sensitivity to parameter variations. Furthermore, variations in the SMD biodynamic properties substantially influence the plate’s behavior, while modifications in physical and geometric characteristics of the plate also affect the human response.