Horizontal-coordinate mass matrix of an unequal-mass double pendulum

ID: horizontal-coordinate-mass-matrix-of-an-unequal-mass-double-pendulum

For equal rod lengths , upper mass and lower mass , use horizontal displacements , at first order. The quadratic kinetic energy is , while the stiffness matrix is
The generalized eigenvalue problem for small oscillations is , not . In particular the lower Euler-Lagrange equation is , independent of the lower mass factor after division by that mass. This reproduces the normal modes of a double pendulum and distinguishes the mechanical mass matrix from its stiffness matrix.

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