Arne Nordmark

Non-periodic motion caused by grazing incidence in an impact oscillator

The motion of a single-degree-of-freedom, periodically forced oscillator subjected to a rigid amplitude constraint is considered. Using analytical methods, the singularities caused by grazing impact are studied. It is shown that as a stable periodic orbit comes to grazing impact under the control of a single parameter, a special type of bifurcation occurs. The motion after the bifurcation may be non-periodic, and a criterion for this based on orientation and eigenvalues is given.

Bifurcations in Nonsmooth Dynamical Systems

A review is presented of the one-parameter, nonsmooth bifurcations that occur in a variety of continuous-time piecewise-smooth dynamical systems. Motivated by applications, a pragmatic approach is taken to defining a discontinuity-induced bifurcation (DIB) as a nontrivial interaction of a limit set with respect to a codimension-one discontinuity boundary in phase space. Only DIBs that are local are considered, that is, bifurcations involving equilibria or a single point of boundary interaction along a limit cycle for flows. Three classes of systems are considered, involving either state jumps, jumps in the vector field, or jumps in some derivative of the vector field. A rich array of dynamics are revealed, involving the sudden creation or disappearance of attractors, jumps to chaos, bifurcation diagrams with sharp corners, and cascades of period adding. For each kind of bifurcation identified, where possible, a kind of “normal form” or discontinuity mapping (DM) is given, together with a canonical example and an application. The goal is always to explain dynamics that may be observed in simulations of systems which include friction oscillators, impact oscillators, DC-DC converters, and problems in control theory.

On the origin and bifurcations of stick-slip oscillations

A recently proposed model of macroscopic friction is investigated using methods of dynamical systems analysis. Particular emphasis is put on the bifurcations associated with the appearance of stick ...

Bifurcations of dynamical systems with sliding: derivation of normal-form mappings

This paper is concerned with the analysis of so-called sliding bifurcations in n-dimensional piecewise-smooth dynamical systems with discontinuous vector field. These novel bifurcations occur when the system trajectory interacts with regions on the discontinuity set where sliding is possible. The derivation of appropriate normal-form maps is detailed. It is shown that the leading-order term in the map depends on the particular bifurcation scenario considered. This is in turn related to the possible bifurcation scenarios exhibited by a periodic orbit undergoing one of the sliding bifurcations discussed in the paper. A third-order relay system serves as a numerical example.

Bifurcations caused by grazing incidence in many degrees of freedom impact oscillators

The transition from stable periodic non-impacting motion to impacting motion is analysed for a mechanical oscillator. By using local methods, it is shown that a grazing impact leads to an almost one-dimensional stretching in state space. A condition can then be formulated, such that a grazing trajectory will be stable if the condition is fulfilled. If this is the case, the bifurcation will be continuous and the motion after the bifurcation can be understood by a one-dimensional mapping. This mapping is known to exhibit chaotic solutions as well as arbitrary long stable cycles, depending on parameters.

Existence of periodic orbits in grazing bifurcations of impacting mechanical oscillators

Grazing bifurcations are local bifurcations that can occur in dynamical models of impacting mechanical systems. The motion resulting from a grazing bifurcation can be complex. In this paper we discuss the creation of periodic orbits associated with grazing bifurcations, and we give sufficient conditions for the existence of a such a family of orbits. We also give a numerical example for an impacting system with one degree of freedom.

TWO-PARAMETER DISCONTINUITY-INDUCED BIFURCATIONS OF LIMIT CYCLES: CLASSIFICATION AND OPEN PROBLEMS

This paper proposes a strategy for the classification of codimension-two discontinuity-induced bifurcations of limit cycles in piecewise smooth systems of ordinary differential equations. Such nonsmooth transitions (also known as C-bifurcations) occur when the cycle interacts with a discontinuity boundary of phase space in a nongeneric way, such as grazing contact. Several such codimension-one events have recently been identified, causing for example, period-adding or sudden onset of chaos. Here, the focus is on codimension-two grazings that are local in the sense that the dynamics can be fully described by an appropriate Poincare map from a neighborhood of the grazing point (or points) of the critical cycle to itself. It is proposed that codimension-two grazing bifurcations can be divided into three distinct types: either the grazing point is degenerate, or the grazing cycle is itself degenerate (e.g. nonhyperbolic) or we have the simultaneous occurrence of two grazing events. A careful distinction is drawn between their occurrence in systems with discontinuous states, discontinuous vector fields, or that with discontinuity in some derivative of the vector field. Examples of each kind of bifurcation are presented, mostly derived from mechanical applications. For each example, where possible, principal bifurcation curves characteristic to the codimension-two scenario are presented and general features of the dynamics discussed. Many avenues for future research are opened.

On normal form calculations in impact oscillators

Normal form calculations are useful for analysing the dynamics close to bifurcations. However, the application to non–smooth systems is a topic for current research. Here we consider a class of impact oscillators, where we allow systems with several degrees of freedom as well as nonlinear equations of motion. Impact is due to the motion of one body, constrained by a motion limiter. The velocities of the system are assumed to change instantaneously at impact. By defining a discontinuity mapping, we show how Poincare mappings can be obtained as an expansion in a local coordinate. This gives the mapping the desired form, thus making it possible to employ standard techniques. All calculations are algorithmic in spirit, hence computer algebra routines can easily be developed.

3D Passive Walkers: Finding Periodic Gaits in the Presence of Discontinuities

This paper studies repetitive gaits found in a 3D passivewalking mechanism descending an inclined plane. By using directnumerical integration and implementing a semi-analytical scheme forstability analysis and root finding, we follow the corresponding limitcycles under parameter variations. The 3D walking model, which is fullydescribed in the paper, contains both force discontinuities andimpact-like instantaneous changes of state variables. As a result, thestandard use of the variational equations is suitably modified. Theproblem of finding initial conditions for the 3D walker is solved bystarting in an almost planar configuration, making it possible to useparameters and initial conditions found for planar walkers. The walkeris gradually transformed into a 3D walker having dynamics in all spatialdirections. We present such a parameter variation showing the stabilityand the amplitude of the hip sway motion. We also show the dependence ofgait cycle measurements, such as stride time, stride length, averagevelocity, and power consumption, on the plane inclination. The paperconcludes with a discussion of some ideas on how to extend the present3D walker using the tools derived in this paper.

A codimension-two scenario of sliding solutions in grazing–sliding bifurcations

This paper investigates codimension-two bifurcations that involve grazing-sliding and fold scenarios. An analytical unfolding of this novel codimension-two bifurcation is presented. Using the discontinuity mapping techniques it is shown that the fold curve is one-sided and cubically tangent to the grazing curve locally to the codimension-two point. This theory is then applied to explain the dynamics of a dry-friction oscillator where such a codimension-two point has been found. In particular, the presence and the character of essential bifurcation curves that merge at the codimension-two point are confirmed. This allows us to study the dynamics away from the codimension-two point using a piecewise affine approximation of the normal form for grazing-sliding bifurcations and explain the dynamics observed in the friction system.