Global asymptotic stability of nonautonomous systems of Liénard type. (Q1425144)

The authors study the global asymptotic stability of nonautonomous systems of Liénard type \[ x'= y-F(x),\quad y'= -p(t)g_1(x)- q(t) g_2(x).\tag{E} \] Some sufficient conditions for the zero solution of (E) to be globally asymptotically stable are given. The zero solution of (E) is said to be globally asymptotically stable if it is stable and every solution of (E) tends to zero as \(t\to\infty\). Firstly, in the case \(F(x)= x\) it is shown that if \hskip17mm \(xg_i(x)> 0\) if \(x\neq 0\), \(i= 1,2\); \hskip17mm \(p(t) g_1(x)\geq {1\over 4} x^2\) for \(t\geq \alpha\) and \(x\in \mathbb{R}\); \hskip17mm \(p'(t)\leq 0\) for \(t\geq \alpha\); \(\lim_{t\to\infty} p(t)> 0\); \hskip17mm \(q(t) g_2(x)\geq q'(t) \int^x_0 g_2(\xi)\,d\xi\) for \(t\geq \alpha\) and \(x\in\mathbb{R}\); \hskip17mm \(0\leq q(t)< \infty\) for \(t\geq \alpha\), then the zero solution of (E) is globally asymptotically stable. This result is proved by means of phase plane analysis with a Lyapunov function. A similar result is given for the general case \(F(x)\neq x\). These results are compared with previous results of Hatvani and Cantarelli by using some examples.