Dynamics of piecewise linear oscillators with van der Pol type damping (Q1196766)

This paper analyzes an underdamped piecewise linear system with a single degree of freedom subjected to a van der Pol type damping, i.e. the damping coefficient assumes negative values for small displacement amplitudes. Symmetric, periodic steady state solutions are first analyzed assuming one change of the system parameters within a half response period. Then stability of the periodic solutions is examined. Bifurcations also of Hopf type are analyzed. Harmonic and subharmonic motions are considered as well. A considerable number of numerical investigations is shown for several combinations of the system parameters. For some cases there is an appearance of amplitude modulated response. In some other cases jump and beating phenomena occur. There can be coexistence of multiple periodic solutions of the same or of different order. Subharmonic motions can coexist with a quasiperiodic response. Some bifurcations show quasiperiodic, high order subharmonic and chaotic response.