Parameter sensitivity of cantilever beam with tip mass to parametric excitation

The sensitivity of the response of a parametrically excited cantilever beam with a tip mass to small variations in elasticity (stiffness) and the tip mass is performed. The governing equation of the first mode is derived, and method of multiple scales is used to determine the approximate solution based on the order of the expected variations. We demonstrate that the system can be designed so that small variations in either stiffness or tip mass can alter the type of bifurcation. Notably, we show that the response of a system designed for a supercritical bifurcation can change to yield a subcritical bifurcation with small variations in the parameters. Although such a trend is usually undesired, we argue that it can be used to detect small variations induced by fatigue or small mass depositions in sensing applications.