PERIODIC-SOLUTIONS OF AN UNSYMMETRIC OSCILLATOR INCLUDING A COMPREHENSIVE STUDY OF THEIR STABILITY CHARACTERISTICS

The periodic solutions of a non-linear oscillator with unsymmetric res toring force and harmonic excitation are studied by means of harmonic balance using an arbitrary number of modes in the assumed solution. Co mparisons between the approximate solution for two modes are made with respect to both one mode and numerical solutions. Different stability criteria have been used in a comparative analysis which shows that hi gher order criteria not only give more accurate results but also respe ct the correct sequence of flips and folds without a significant incre ase in computational cost. (C) 1996 Academic Press Limited