ABSTRACT
Bells are musical instruments that are closely connected with European cultural heritage. Although the design of a bell, its clapper, and a belfry has been developed for centuries, mathematical modeling of their behavior has been encountered recently. It is surprising from an engineering point of view because bells and their supports are structures that are exposed to severe loading conditions during ringing. To ensure that they will work reliably for ages, we have to consider many factors and one of the most important is to ensure safe and effective operation. Moreover, the dynamics of a yoke–bell–clapper system is extremely complex and difficult to analyze due to its nonlinear characteristic, repetitive impacts, and complicated excitation.
