Global dynamical behavior of a three-body system with flexible connection in the gravitational field

Summary In this paper, the global behavior of relative equilibrium states of a three-body satellite with flexible connection under the action of the gravitational torque is studied. With geometric method, the conditions of existence of nontrivial solutions to the relative equilibrium equations are determined. By using reduction method and singularity theory, the conditions of occurrence of bifurcation from trivial solutions are derived, which agree with the existence conditions of nontrivial solutions, and the bifurcation is proved to be pitchfork-bifurcation. The Liapunov stability of each equilibrium state is considered, and a stability diagram in terms of system parameters is presented. Received 10 March 1998; accepted for publication 21 July 1998     

Stability, bifurcation and chaos of a delayed oscillator with negative damping and delayed feedback control

This paper presents a detailed analysis on the dynamics of a delayed oscillator with negative damping and delayed feedback control. Firstly, a linear stability analysis for the trivial equilibrium is given. Then, the direction of Hopf bifurcation and stability of periodic solutions bifurcating from trivial equilibrium are determined by using the normal form theory and center manifold theorem. It shows that with properly chosen delay and gain in the delayed feedback path, this controlled delayed system may have stable equilibrium, or periodic solutions, or quasi-periodic solutions, or coexisting stable solutions. In addition, the controlled system may exhibit period-doubling bifurcation which eventually leads to chaos. Finally, some new interesting phenomena, such as the coexistence of periodic orbits and chaotic attractors, have been observed. The results indicate that delayed feedback control can make systems with state delay produce more complicated dynamics.     

Reduced equilibrium equations for perfectly elastic materials

Sufficient conditions are given on the coordinate systems which enable reduced equilibrium equations to be derived for perfectly elastic materials involving deformations which depend in an essential way only on two of the three coordinates. Reduced equilibrium equations given previously for plane and axially symmetric deformations are special cases of the equations given here. These equations considerably reduce the calculations involved in investigating possible solutions of finite elasticity, either exact semi-inverse solutions or approximate perturbation solutions. Moreover a formula for the pressure function appearing in the reduced equilibrium equations is given which relates to the corresponding pressure function associated with the inverse deformation. This formula is similar to one given previously for fully three dimensional deformations.     

Studying the stability of equilibrium solutions in a planar circular restricted four-body problem

The Newtonian circular restricted four-body problem is considered. We obtain nonlinear algebraic equations determining equilibrium solutions in the rotating frame and find six possible equilibrium configurations of the system. Studying the stability of equilibrium solutions, we prove that the radial equilibrium solutions are unstable, while the bisector equilibrium solutions are stable in Lyapunov’s sense if the mass parameter satisfies the conditions μ ∈ (0, μ₀, where μ₀ is a sufficiently small number, and μ ≠ μ_j, j = 1, 2, 3. We also prove that, for μ = μ₁ and μ = μ₃, the resonance conditions of the third order and the fourth order, respectively, are satisfied and, for these values of μ, the bisector equilibrium solutions are unstable and stable in Lyapunov’s sense, respectively. All symbolic and numerical calculations are done with the Mathematica computer algebra system. Published in Neliniini Kolyvannya, Vol. 10, No. 1, pp. 66–82, January–March, 2007.     

Study of a transition in the qualitative behavior of a simple oscillator with Coulomb friction

A simple mass-spring system is submitted to a constant force in addition to a periodic perturbation of rectangular wave shape. It has been obtained in a previous study that the range of the period-amplitude plane of this perturbation, where the trajectories are sliding with no loss of contact, is divided into two parts, one in which there exist infinitely many equilibrium states and no periodic solutions, and another one where there exist periodic solutions and no equilibrium states. The present work focuses on the transition between these two parts. All along the transition line, there exists a single equilibrium state. Initial data out of equilibrium lead either to a periodic trajectory, or to a trajectory, which tends to the equilibrium or to a periodic solution, either in finite time or at infinity.     

Equilibria of axially moving beams in the supercritical regime

Equilibria of axially moving beams are computationally investigated in the supercritical transport speed ranges. In the supercritical regime, the pattern of equilibria consists of the straight configuration and of non-trivial solutions that bifurcate with transport speed. The governing equations of coupled planar is reduced to a partial-differential equation and an integro-partial-differential equation of transverse vibration. The numerical schemes are respectively presented for the governing equations and the corresponding static equilibrium equation of coupled planar and the two governing equations of transverse motion for non-trivial equilibrium solutions via the finite difference method and differential quadrature method under the simple support boundary. A steel beam is treated as example to demonstrate the non-trivial equilibrium solutions of three nonlinear equations. Numerical results indicate that the three models predict qualitatively the same tendencies of the equilibrium with the changing parameters and the integro-partial-differential equation yields results quantitatively closer to those of the coupled equations.     

Spacecraft motion around artificial equilibrium points

The main goal of this paper is to describe the motion of a spacecraft around an artificial equilibrium point in the circular restricted three-body problem. The spacecraft is under the gravitational influence of the Sun and the Earth, as primary and secondary bodies, subjected to the force due to the solar radiation pressure and some extra perturbations. Analytical solutions for the equations of motion of the spacecraft are found using several methods and for different extra perturbations. These solutions are strictly valid at the artificial equilibrium point, but they are used as approximations to describe the motion around this artificial equilibrium point. As an application of the method, the perturbation due to the gravitational influence of Jupiter and Venus is added to a spacecraft located at a chosen artificial equilibrium point, near the \(L_3\) Lagrangian point of the Sun–Earth system. The system is propagated starting from this point using analytical and numerical solutions. Comparisons between analytical–analytical and analytical–numerical solutions for several kinds of perturbations are made to guide the choice of the best analytical solution, with the best accuracy.     

Non-uniqueness of Beltrami–Schaefer Stress Functions

Beltrami and Schaefer derived solutions for the equilibrium equations of an elastic objective free of body force, and Gurtin proved that the solutions are complete, i.e., proved that Beltrami–Schaefer stress functions are general solutions of the equilibrium equations. In this paper we show that the Beltrami–Schaefer stress functions are not unique, and we determine their degree of non-uniqueness. Finally, we present two applications of the non-uniqueness as remarks.     

A Collection of Analytical Solutions for the Flash Equilibrium Calculation Problem

Transport in Porous Media - We describe an interesting family of closed-form solutions for the flash equilibrium calculation problem. These solutions can be used as benchmark solutions for...     

Center Manifold Theory for Functional Differential Equations of Mixed Type

We study the behaviour of solutions to nonlinear autonomous functional differential equations of mixed type in the neighbourhood of an equilibrium. We show that all solutions that remain sufficiently close to an equilibrium can be captured on a finite dimensional invariant center manifold, that inherits the smoothness of the nonlinearity. In addition, we provide a Hopf bifurcation theorem for such equations. We illustrate the application range of our results by discussing an economic life-cycle model that gives rise to functional differential equations of mixed type.     

Non-linear in-plane postbuckling of arches with rotational end restraints under uniform radial loading

This paper presents a thorough and comprehensive investigation of non-linear buckling and postbuckling analyses of pin-ended shallow circular arches subjected to a uniform radial load and which have equal elastic rotational end-restraints. The differential equations of equilibrium for non-linear buckling and postbuckling are established based on a virtual work approach. Exact solutions for the non-linear bifurcation, limit point and lowest buckling loads are obtained; in particular, exact solutions for the non-linear postbuckling equilibrium paths are derived. The criteria for switching between fundamental buckling and postbuckling modes are developed in terms of critical values of a geometric parameter for an arch, with exact solutions for these critical values of geometric parameter being obtained. Analytical solutions of non-linear buckling and postbuckling problems for arches with rotational end-restraints are of great interest, since they constitute one of the very few closed-form analyses of buckling and postbuckling behaviour of continuous structural systems. These exact solutions are a contribution to the non-linear structural mechanics of arches, as well as providing useful benchmark solutions for verifying non-linear numerical analyses.     

The remarkable nature of radially symmetric equilibrium states of aeolotropic nonlinearly elastic bodies

This paper treats the radially symmetric equilibrium states of aeolotropic nonlinearly elastic solid cylinders and balls under constant normal forces on their boundaries. It is shown that the aeolotropy gives rise to solutions describing both intact and cavitating states, which exhibit an array of remarkable new phenomena, not suggested by the solutions for isotropic bodies. E.g., it is shown that there are materials having a critical pressure such that for applied pressures on the boundary below the critical value, the normal pressures at the center of the body are zero and for applied pressures above the critical value, the normal pressures at the center are infinite. There are also materials for which there is no equilibrium state with center intact when the boundary is subjected to uniform tension. It is also shown that the equilibrium states treated here are the only radially symmetric equilibrium states. Thus the strange phenomena discovered here must be present in such stable equilibrium states.     

Constitutive branching analysis of cylindrical bodies under in-plane equibiaxial dead-load tractions

Finite homogeneous deformations of hyperelastic cylindrical bodies subjected to in-plane equibiaxial dead-load tractions are analyzed. Four basic equilibrium problems are formulated considering incompressible and compressible isotropic bodies under plane stress and plane deformation condition. Depending on the form of the stored energy function, these plane problems, in addition to the obvious symmetric solutions, may admit asymmetric solutions. In other words, the body may assume an equilibrium configuration characterized by two unequal in-plane principal stretches corresponding to equal external forces. In this paper, a mathematical condition, in terms of the principal invariants, governing the global development of the asymmetric deformation branches is obtained and examined in detail with regard to different choices of the stored energy function. Moreover, explicit expressions for evaluating critical loads and bifurcation points are derived. With reference to neo-Hookean, Mooney-Rivlin and Ogden-Ball materials, a broad numerical analysis is performed and the qualitatively more interesting asymmetric equilibrium branches are shown. Finally, using the energy criterion, a number of considerations are put forward about the stability of the computed solutions.     

Periodic Orbits in Hamiltonian Systems with Involutory Symmetries

We study the existence of families of periodic solutions in a neighbourhood of a symmetric equilibrium point in two classes of Hamiltonian systems with involutory symmetry. In both classes, the involution reverses the sign of the Hamiltonian function, and the system is in 1:1 resonance. In the first class we study a Hamiltonian system with a reversing involution R acting symplectically. We first recover a result of Buzzi and Lamb showing that the equilibrium point is contained in a three dimensional conical subspace which consists of a two parameter family of periodic solutions with symmetry R, and furthermore that there may or may not exist two families of non-symmetric periodic solutions, depending on the coefficients of the Hamiltonian (correcting a minor error in their paper). In the second problem we study an equivariant Hamiltonian system with a symmetry S that acts anti-symplectically. Generically, there is no S-symmetric solution in a neighbourhood of the equilibrium point. Moreover, we prove the existence of at least 2 and at most 12 families of non-symmetric periodic solutions. We conclude with a brief study of systems with both forms of symmetry, showing they have very similar structure to the system with symmetry R.     

Asymptotic solutions of coupled equations of supercritically axially moving beam

In supercritical regime, the coupled model equations for the axially moving beam with simple support boundary conditions are considered. The critical speed is determined by linear bifurcation analysis, which is in agreement with the results in the literature. For the corresponding static equilibrium state, the second-order asymptotic nontrivial solutions are obtained through the multiple scales method. Meantime, the numerical solutions are also obtained based on the finite difference method. Comparisons among the analytical solutions, numerical solutions and solutions of integro-partial-differential equation of transverse which is deduced from coupled model equations are made. We find that the second-order asymptotic analytical solutions can well capture the nontrivial equilibrium state regardless of the amplitude of transverse displacement. However, the integro-partial-differential equation is only valid for the weak small-amplitude vibration axially moving slender beams.     

Incompressible Elastic Bodies with Non-Convex Energy under Dead-Load Surface Tractions

In this paper we study the equilibrium deformations of an incompressible elastic body with a non-convex strain energy function which is subjected to a homogeneous distribution of dead-load tractions. To determine the stable solutions we consider the mixtures of the phases which minimize the total energy density. In the special case of a trilinear material we discuss the stability of the equilibrium phases in detail. Finally, we show that multiphase solutions are possible when the surface loads correspond to a critical simple shear and we sketch their possible forms. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Spherically symmetric two-phase deformations and phase transition zones

This paper is concerned with characterization and stability assessment of two-phase spherically symmetric deformations that can be supported by a nonlinear elastic isotropic material. We study general properties of equilibrium two-phase spherically symmetric deformations. Then we specialize to phase transformations of a solid sphere that is subjected to an all-round tension/pressure. Two material models are used to demonstrate a variety of transformation behaviours and some common features. For both materials we construct phase transition zones (PTZs) formed in the space of principal stretches by those which can exist adjacently to an equilibrium interface. Then we demonstrate how the PTZ can be used for the prediction of the number of two-phase spherically symmetric solutions and study how the deformation field associated with each solution is related to the PTZ. We show that even in the simplest case of one interface the solution is not unique: two equilibrium two-phase solutions as well as one uniform one-phase solution are found under the same boundary conditions. For the three solutions we construct their load-deformation diagrams and compare the associated total energies. The stability of the two-phase states with respect to radial and small-wavelength perturbations is also examined. We observe how unstable solutions are related with the PTZ.     

Parametric resonances in a base-excited double pendulum

Two parametrically-induced phenomena are addressed in the context of a double pendulum subject to a vertical base excitation. First, the parametric resonances that cause the stable downward vertical equilibrium to bifurcate into large-amplitude periodic solutions are investigated extensively. Then the stabilization of the unstable upward equilibrium states through the parametric action of the high-frequency base motion is documented in the experiments and in the simulations. It is shown that there is a region in the plane of the excitation frequency and amplitude where all four unstable equilibrium states can be stabilized simultaneously in the double pendulum. The parametric resonances of the two modes of the base-excited double pendulum are studied both theoretically and experimentally. The transition curves (i.e., boundaries of the dynamic instability regions) are constructed asymptotically via the method of multiple scales including higher-order effects. The bifurcations characterizing the transitions from the trivial equilibrium to the periodic solutions are computed by either continuation methods and or by time integration and compared with the theoretical and experimental results.     

Homogeneous Equilibrium Configurations of a Hyperelastic Compressible Cube under Equitriaxial Dead-Load Tractions

Non-uniqueness, bifurcation and stability of homogeneous solutions to the equilibrium problem of a hyperelastic cube subject to equitriaxial dead-load tractions are investigated. Besides the basic and theoretical questions raised by the analysis, the study is motivated by the somewhat surprising feature of this nonlinear problem for which the symmetric load may give rise to asymmetric stable deformations. In reality, the equilibrium problem, formulated for general homogeneous compressible isotropic materials with polyconvex energy function, may exhibit primary and secondary bifurcations. A primary bifurcation occurs when there exist paths of equilibrium states that bifurcate from the primary path of three equal principal stretches. These bifurcation branches have two coinciding stretches and along them, through secondary bifurcations, other completely asymmetric bifurcation branches, which are characterized by all three stretches different, may risen. In this case, the cube transforms into an oblique parallelepiped. With increasing loads, they are also possible discontinuous paths of equilibria which evince prompt jumps in the deformation process. Of course, the set of asymmetric solutions admitted by the equilibrium problem depends on the specific form of the stored energy function adopted. In this paper, expressions governing the global development of asymmetric equilibrium branches are derived. In particular, conditions to have bifurcation points are individualized. For compressible neo-Hookean and Mooney-Rivlin materials a wide parametric analysis is carried out showing by means of graphs the most interesting branches. Finally, using the energy criterion, a detailed study is performed to assess the stability of the computed solutions.      

The use of displacement potentials in second order elasticity

This paper is concerned with the use of a representation in terms of displacement potentials in second order elasticity for equilibrium problems of homogeneous and isotropic materials. After justifying the adoption of an existing representation for linear elasticity for the purpose at hand, appropriate representations for solutions of second order elasticity problems in terms of displacement potentials (for both compressible and incompressible materials) are discussed. The use of the representations in obtaining complete solutions for equilibrium boundary-value problems is then illustrated by application to two examples of plane strain problems of compressible materials.