Global dynamics of a parametrically and externally excited thin plate

Both the local and global bifurcations of a parametrically and externally e xcited simply supported rectagular thin plate are analyzed. The formulas of the thin plate are derived from the von Karman equation and Galerkin's met hod. The method of multiple scales is used to find the averaged equations. The numerical simulation of local bifurcation is given. The theory of norma l form, based on the averaged equations, is used to obtain the explicit exp ressions of normal form associated with a double zero and a pair of purely imaginary eigenvalues from the Maple program. On the basis of the normal fo rm, global bifurcation analysis of a parametrically and externally excited rectangular thin plate is given by the global perturbation method developed hy Kovacic and Wiggins. The chaotic motion of the thin plate is found by n umerical simulation.