Nonlinear oscillations, transition to chaos and escape in the Duffing system with non-classical damping

We investigate the power of a ripping head in the process of concrete cutting. Using nonlinear embedding methods we study the corresponding time series obtained during the cutting process. The calculated maximal Lyapunov exponent indicates the exponential divergence typical for chaotic or stochastic systems. The recurrence plots technique has been used to get nonlinear process statistics for identification and description of nonlinear dynamics, lying behind the cutting process

Jump and pull-in dynamics of an electrically actuated bistable MEMS device

This study analyzes a theoretical bistable MEMS device, which exhibits a considerable versatility of behavior. After exploring the coexistence of attractors, we focus on each rest position, and investigate the final outcome, when the electrodynamic voltage is suddenly applied. Our aim is to describe the parameter range where each attractor may practically be observed under realistic conditions, when an electric load is suddenly applied. Since disturbances are inevitably encountered in experiments and practice, a dynamical integrity analysis is performed in order to take them into account. We build the integrity charts, which examine the practical vulnerability of each attractor. A small integrity enhances the sensitivity of the system to disturbances, leading in practice either to jump or to dynamic pull-in. Accordingly, the parameter range where the device, subjected to a suddenly applied load, can operate in safe conditions with a certain attractor is smaller, and sometimes considerably smaller, than in the theoretical predictions. While we refer to a particular case-study, the approach is very general

Logarithmic soft graviton theorems from superrotation Ward identities

Soft graviton theorems receive one-loop contributions that are logarithmic in the energy of the soft graviton, and which are closely related to tails of gravitational waveforms. We demonstrate that these logarithmic corrections are encoded in the Ward identity of superrotation symmetries, i.e. they follow from conservation of superrotation charge across spatial infinity i0. Our proof relies on a careful analysis of the radiative phase space admitting such gravitational tails, and the determination of the fluxes through null infinity I that act as canonical generators of superrotations on both gravitational and matter fields. All logarithmic terms are derived from the fluxes through correlations of the supertranslation Goldstone mode, provided care is taken in manipulating gravitationally interacting (i.e. dressed) rather than free fields. In cases where massive particles take part in the scattering process, logarithmic corrections also partly arise from the superrotation charge generator at timelike infinity i±

Bridging Carrollian and Celestial Holography

Gravity in $4d$ asymptotically flat spacetime constitutes the archetypal example of a gravitational system with leaky boundary conditions. Pursuing our analysis of [1], we argue that the holographic description of such a system requires the coupling of the dual theory living at null infinity to some external sources encoding the radiation reaching the conformal boundary and responsible for the non-conservation of the charges. In particular, we show that the sourced Ward identities of a conformal Carrollian field theory living at null infinity reproduce the BMS flux-balance laws. We also derive the general form of low-point correlation functions for conformal Carrollian field theories and exhibit a new branch of solutions, which is argued to be the relevant one for holographic purposes. We then relate our Carrollian approach to the celestial holography proposal by mapping the Carrollian Ward identities to those constraining celestial operators through a suitable integral transform.Comment: 77 pages, 4 figure

Logarithmic soft graviton theorems from superrotation Ward identities

Soft graviton theorems receive one-loop contributions that are logarithmic in the energy of the soft graviton, and which are closely related to tails of gravitational waveforms. We demonstrate that these logarithmic corrections are encoded in the Ward identity of superrotation symmetries, i.e. they follow from conservation of superrotation charge across spatial infinity $i^0$. Our proof relies on a careful analysis of the radiative phase space admitting such gravitational tails, and the determination of the fluxes through null infinity $\mathscr I$ that act as canonical generators of superrotations on both gravitational and matter fields. All logarithmic terms are derived from the fluxes through correlations of the supertranslation Goldstone mode, provided care is taken in manipulating gravitationally interacting (i.e. dressed) rather than free fields. In cases where massive particles take part in the scattering process, logarithmic corrections also partly arise from the superrotation charge generator at timelike infinity $i^\pm$.Comment: 15 page

Theoretical Prediction of Experimental Jump and Pull-In Dynamics in a MEMS Sensor

The present research study deals with an electrically actuated MEMS device. An experimental investigation is performed, via frequency sweeps in a neighbourhood of the first natural frequency. Resonant behavior is explored, with special attention devoted to jump and pull-in dynamics. A theoretical single degree-of-freedom spring-mass model is derived. Classical numerical simulations are observed to properly predict the main nonlinear features. Nevertheless, some discrepancies arise, which are particularly visible in the resonant branch. They mainly concern the practical range of existence of each attractor and the final outcome after its disappearance. These differences are likely due to disturbances, which are unavoidable in practice, but have not been included in the model. To take disturbances into account, in addition to the classical local investigations, we consider the global dynamics and explore the robustness of the obtained results by performing a dynamical integrity analysis. Our aim is that of developing an applicable confident estimate of the system response. Integrity profiles and integrity charts are built to detect the parameter range where reliability is practically strong and where it becomes weak. Integrity curves exactly follow the experimental data. They inform about the practical range of actuality. We discuss the combined use of integrity charts in the engineering design. Although we refer to a particular case-study, the approach is very general

Sexual Functioning and Opioid Maintenance Treatment in Women. Results From a Large Multicentre Study

Opioid maintenance treatment (OMT) is the most widespread therapy for both females and males opioid addicts. While many studies have evaluated the OMT impact on men’s sexuality, the data collected about the change in women’s sexual functioning is still limited despite the fact that it is now well-known that opioids - both endogenous and exogenous - affect the endocrine system and play an important role in sexual functioning. The present study aims to determine how OMT with buprenorphine (BUP) or methadone (MTD) affects sexual health in women; examining also any possible emerging correlation between sexual dysfunction (SD), type of opioid and patients’ mental health. This multi-center study case recruited 258 female volunteers attending Italian public Addiction Outpatients Centers that were stabilized with OMT for at least 3 months. SD was assessed with the Arizona Sexual Experience Scale. The twelve-item General Health Questionnaire was used to assess participants’ mental health conditions. The results show that 56.6% of women receiving OMT for at least 3 months presented SD without significant differences between MTD e BUP groups. The majority of the subjects with SD have a poorer quality of intimate relationships and worse mental health than the average. To the best of our knowledge, the present study is the largest report on the presence of SDs in women as a side effects of MTD and BUP used in OMT. Since SDs cause difficulties in intimate relationships, lower patients’ quality of life and interfere with OMT beneficial outcomes, we recommend that women undertaking an opioid therapy have routine screening for SD and we highlight the importance to better examine opioid-endocrine interactions in future studies in order to provide alternative potential treatments such as the choice of opioid, opioid dose reduction and hormone supplementation

NONLINEAR PHENOMENA IN THE SINGLE-MODE DYNAMICS OF A CABLE-SUPPORTED BEAM

In this paper we discuss the practical usefulness of nonlinear dynamical analysis for the design of a planar cable-supported beam: we refer to a feasible case, assuming the value of the parameters corresponding to a realistic pedestrian footbridge. We consider a one degree of freedom model, obtained by the classical Galerkin reduction technique: the ensuing ordinary differential equation has both quadratic and cubic terms, due to geometric nonlinearities. Extensive numerical simulations are performed: they point out that this model, in spite of its apparent simplicity, is able to highlight the complex dynamics of the cable-supported beam, describing several common and uncommon nonlinear phenomena. Each of them is interpreted in terms of oscillations of the considered mechanical system; we explain the relevance of all the obtained results in the design of the examined structure under steady loads as wind and pedestrians, but also under transient phenomena as earthquake and gust; the ensuing issues, the most dangerous ranges and also the sensibility to perturbations are discussed in detail. In particular we deal with the importance, for an engineering design, of a careful interpretation of: isola bifurcation, transition to chaos both by period doubling cascade and reverse boundary crisis, multistability with coexistence of chaotic and periodic attractors, fractal basins boundaries, erosion of immediate basins, interrupted sequence of period doubling bifurcations. Also the effects of secondary attractors are analyzed, and it is shown that in general they cannot be neglected even if their range of existence is very small. We underline that all these investigations are performed choosing the excitation frequency far from resonances in order to alert the designer that the system dynamics may be complex independently of the activation mechanism due to resonance

Multiple internal resonance couplings and quasi-periodicity patterns in hybrid-shaped micromachined resonators

Micro- and nano-electromechanical systems may experience internal resonances, which are inherently strengthened by the systems' nonlinearities. In the present paper, we investigate the dynamics of a hybrid resonator, combining straight and initially curved microbeam shapes. The curved part length is tailored to monitor the three lowest natural frequencies and induce simultaneous internal resonances between first and second modes and second and third modes. We examine the nonlinear interaction of dual hardening and softening bending of the fundamental frequency response curves. Due to the specific frequency ratios, different types of subcombination internal resonances emerge, with quasi-periodic energy transfer among the modes. The subcombination may result in frequencies closely-spaced, which leads to quasi-periodic beating among the frequencies involved and, due to the strong nonlinearities, to the emergence of intermodulation products. We analyze the different patterns underlying the quasi-periodicity, which are intrinsically related to the frequency ratios and deeply affected by the nonlinearities

An Efficient Reduced-Order Model to Investigate the Behavior of an Imperfect Microbeam Under Axial Load and Electric Excitation

In this study an efficient reduced-order model for a MEMS device is developed and investigations of the nonlinear static and the dynamic behavior are performed. The device is constituted of an imperfect microbeam under an axial load and an electric excitation. The imperfections, typically due to microfabrication processes, are simulated assuming a shallow arched initial shape. The axial load is deliberately added with an elevated value. The structure has a bistable static configuration of double potential well with possibility of escape. We derive a single-mode reduced-order model via the Ritz technique and the Padé approximation. This model, while simple, is able to combine both a sufficient accuracy, which enables to detect the main qualitative features of the device response up to elevated values of electrodynamic excitation, and a remarkable computational efficiency, which is essential for systematic global nonlinear dynamic simulations. We illustrate the nonlinear phenomena arising in the device, such as the coexistence of various competing in-well and cross-well attractors, which leads to a considerable versatility of behavior. We discuss their physical meaning and their practical relevance for the engineering design of the microstructure, since this is an uncommon and very attractive aspect in applications