Analysis of large-amplitude oscillations in triple-well non-natural systems

Abstract

In this paper, the large-amplitude oscillation of a triple-well non-natural system, covering both qualitative and quantitative analysis, is investigated. The nonlinear system is governed by a quadratic velocity term and an odd-parity restoring force having cubic and quintic nonlinearities. Many mathematical models in mechanical and structural engineering applications can give rise to this nonlinear problem. In terms of qualitative analysis, the equilibrium points and its trajectories due to the change of the governing parameters are studied. It is interesting that there exist heteroclinic and homoclinic orbits under different equilibrium states. By adjusting the parameter values, the dynamic behavior of this conservative system is shifted accordingly. As exact solutions for this problem expressed in terms of an integral form must be solved numerically, an analytical approximation method can be used to construct accurate solutions to the oscillation around the stable equilibrium points of this system. This method is based on the harmonic balance method incorporated with Newton's method, in which a series of linear algebraic equations can be derived to replace coupled and complicated nonlinear algebraic equations. According to this harmonic balance-based approach, only the use of Fourier series expansions of known functions is required. Accurate analytical approximate solutions can be derived using lower order harmonic balance procedures. The proposed analytical method can offer good agreement with the corresponding numerical results for the whole range of oscillation amplitudes.