Experimental nonlinear dynamics of a closed loop Electro-Mechanical Valve Actuator (EMVA)

Electromechanical Valve Actuators (EMVA) are fundamental components of camless engines. This work is concerned with the experimental validation of the bifurcation behaviour of an EMVA controlled via a so-called "key-on" feedback controller. The experimental results are validated via an appropriate mathematical model and the existence of limit cycles proved analytically by using a describing function approach. The numerical and theoretical analysis are shown to capture the observed experimental behaviour.