CHAOS IN PLANAR OSCILLATIONS OF A TODA PARTICLE

The dynamic behaviour of a Toda particle is investigated numerically. The system is a discrete spring-mass system and it oscillates in a pla ne two-dimensionally under the action of a harmonic excitation. Period ic and chaotic motions are shown to be possible in the parameter space . Numerical methods are used to obtain the time histories, the Poincar e maps, the Lyapunov spectra, their fractal dimensions and the power s pectra. It is shown that the system is sensitive to initial conditions . The two- and three-dimensional chaos diagrams are convenient in inte rpreting chaotic behaviour. (C) Elsevier Science Ltd