Multi-scaled analysis of the damped dynamics of an elastic rod with an essentially nonlinear end attachment

We study multi-frequency transitions in the transient dynamics of a viscously damped dispersive finite rod with an essentially nonlinear end attachment. The attachment consists of a small mass connected to the rod by means of an essentially nonlinear stiffness in parallel to a viscous damper. First, the periodic orbits of the underlying hamiltonian system with no damping are computed, and depicted in a frequency–energy plot (FEP). This representation enables one to clearly distinguish between the different types of periodic motions, forming back bone curves and subharmonic tongues. Then the damped dynamics of the system is computed; the rod and attachment responses are initially analyzed by the numerical Morlet wavelet transform (WT), and then by the empirical mode decomposition (EMD) or Hilbert–Huang transform (HTT), whereby, the time series are decomposed in terms of intrinsic mode functions (IMFs) at different characteristic time scales (or, equivalently, frequency scales). Comparisons of the evolutions of the instantaneous frequencies of the IMFs to the WT spectra of the time series enables one to identify the dominant IMFs of the signals, as well as, the time scales at which the dominant dynamics evolve at different time windows of the responses; hence, it is possible to reconstruct complex transient responses as superposition of the dominant IMFs involving different time scales of the dynamical response. Moreover, by superimposing the WT spectra and the instantaneous frequencies of the IMFs to the FEPs of the underlying hamiltonian system, one is able to clearly identify the multi-scaled transitions that occur in the transient damped dynamics, and to interpret them as ‘jumps’ between different branches of periodic orbits of the underlying hamiltonian system. As a result, this work develops a physics-based, multi-scaled framework and provides the necessary computational tools for multi-scaled analysis of complex multi-frequency transitions of essentially nonlinear dynamical systems

Discrete breathers at the interface between a diatomic and monoatomic granular chain

In the present work, we develop a systematic examination of the existence, stability and dynamical properties of a discrete breather at the interface between a diatomic and a monoatomic granular chain. We remarkably find that such an "interface breather" is more robust than its bulk diatomic counterpart throughout the gap of the linear spectrum. The latter linear spectral gap needs to exist for the breather state to arise and the relevant spectral conditions are discussed. We illustrate the minimal excitation conditions under which such an interface breather can be "nucleated" and analyze its apparently weak interaction with regular highly nonlinear solitary waveforms.Comment: 11 pages, 10 figure

On the periodic motions of simple hopping robots

Discrete dynamical systems theory is applied to the analysis of simplified hopping robot models. A one-dimensional vertical hopping model that captures both the vertical hopping dynamics and nonlinear control algorithm is reviewed. A more complicated two-dimensional model that includes both forward and vertical hopping dynamics and a foot placement algorithm is presented. These systems are analyzed using a Poincare return map and hopping behavior is investigated by constructing the return map bifurcation diagrams with respect to system parameters. The diagrams show period doubling leading to chaotic behavior. Using the vertical model results as a guide, dynamic behaviour of the planar hopping system is interpreted

Nonlinear dynamics of coupled transverse-rotational waves in granular chains

The nonlinear dynamics of coupled waves in one-dimensional granular chains with and without a substrate is theoretically studied accounting for quadratic nonlinearity. The multiple time scale method is used to derive the nonlinear dispersion relations for infinite granular chains and to obtain the wave solutions for semiinfinite systems. It is shown that the sum-frequency and difference-frequency components of the coupled transverse-rotational waves are generated due to their nonlinear interactions with the longitudinal wave. Nonlinear resonances are not present in the chain with no substrate where these frequency components have low amplitudes and exhibit beating oscillations. In the chain positioned on a substrate two types of nonlinear resonances are predicted. At resonance, the fundamental frequency wave amplitudes decrease and the generated frequency component amplitudes increase along the chain, accompanied by the oscillations due to the wave numbers asynchronism. The results confirm the possibility of a highly efficient energy transfer between the waves of different frequencies, which could find applications in the design of acoustic devices for energy transfer and energy rectification

Nonlinear MDOF system characterization and identi cation using the Hilbert-Huang transform

The Hilbert transform is one of the most successful approaches to tracking the varying nature of vibration of a large class of nonlinear systems thanks to the extraction of backbone curves from experimental data. Because signals with multiple frequency components do not admit a well-behaved Hilbert transform, it is inherently limited to the analysis of single-degree-of-freedom systems. In this study, the joint application of the complexification-averaging method and the empirical mode decomposition enables us to develop a new technique, the slow-flow model identification method. Through numerical and experimental applications, we demonstrate that the proposed method is adequate for characterizing and identifying multi-degree-offreedom nonlinear systems

The slow-flow method of identification in nonlinear structural dynamics

The Hilbert-Huang transform (HHT) has been shown to be effective for characterizing a wide range of nonstationary signals in terms of elemental components through what has been called the empirical mode decomposition. The HHT has been utilized extensively despite the absence of a serious analytical foundation, as it provides a concise basis for the analysis of strongly nonlinear systems. In this paper, we attempt to provide the missing link, showing the relationship between the EMD and the slow-flow equations of the system. The slow-flow model is established by performing a partition between slow and fast dynamics using the complexification-averaging technique, and a dynamical system described by slowly-varying amplitudes and phases is obtained. These variables can also be extracted directly from the experimental measurements using the Hilbert transform coupled with the EMD. The comparison between the experimental and analytical results forms the basis of a nonlinear system identification method, termed the slow-flowmodel identification method, which is demonstrated using numerical examples