Catastrophe mechanism and classification of discontinuity behavior in thermal science (II) Cusp catastrophe

The catastrophe mechanisms of thermal performance characteristics of the fi rebox gas combustion system were analyzed from the viewpoint of catastrophe theory. The mathematical models of cusp catastrophe were established. The relationship between the thermal performance characteristics and the changi ng of system control variables was studied. The cusp catastrophe mechanisms of typical performance characteristics, such as kicking and lagging, and t hose of transition from quenching to igniting were explained. It was illust rated that discontinuity behavior of thermal systems with an "S" motion fea ture curve and lagging feature may be equivalently classified according to the topology of cusp catastrophe, influenced by two groups of independent c ontrol variables.