Nonconservative stability problems of modern physics (Q5917913)

In the introductory Chapter I, the author gives a review of nonconservative problems in mechanics and non-Hermitian problems in physics, describes their connections with nonselfadjoint operators in the theory of matrix polynomials and functional analysis, and gives a short review of the book contents. Chapter 2 presents the basic definitions and results from the theory of Lyapunov stability and linear stability analysis (second and first methods of Lyapunov; algebraic criteria for asymptotic stability; robust Hurwitz stability vs. structional instability). In Chapter 3 ``Hamiltonian and gyroscopic systems'', the author examines the stability of a rotating heavy top with a cavity filled with ideal incompressible fluid (Sobolev's top), and explains its connections with the operator theory in spaces with indefinite metrics. The theory of canonical and Hamiltonian equations is outlined. Chapter 4 ``Reversible and circulatory systems'' contains the theory of such systems (eigenvalue perturbation theory; geometry of stability boundary and singularities on it; eigenvalues, their crossing and veering; parametric optimization of circulatory systems) with applications to divergence and flutter, stability of an airfoil in an inviscid flow in aerodynamics, and optimization of Ziegler's pendulum. Chapter 5 ``Influence of structure of forces on stability'' studies the stability of equilibria of mechanical systems under the action of positional potential and circulatory forces and velocity-dependent damping and gyroscopic forces. Among them are undamped potential systems and damped potential systems. For undamped gyroscopic systems the author gives criteria for gyroscopic stabilization, and for damped gyroscopic systems he gives criteria for their stability and instability. The section ``Circulatory systems with and without velocity-dependent forces'' reduces the stability investigation to a polynomial eigenvalue problem. The author also considers Merkin's theorem, Bulatovic's flutter condition, and applies the Bottema-Lakhadanov-Karapetyan condition to the motion of Ziegler's pendulum. Chapter 6 presents a detailed investigation of dissipation-induced instabilities in Hamiltonian and reversible systems. Here, on the example of Crandall's gyropendulum, the author investigates the gyroscopic stabilization of nonconservative systems under dissipative and circulatory perturbations together with an algebraic eigenvalue problem. Gyroscopic and circulatory systems are considered as limits of dissipative systems. In Chapter 7, following the author's work [Z. Angew. Math. Phys. 61, No. 2, 221--234 (2010; Zbl 1207.34111)], boundary value problems are studied for linear nonselfadjoint order-\(m\) \(N \times N\) matrix differential operators on the interval \([0,1]\). The coefficient matrices in the differential expressions and the matrix boundary conditions are supposed to be analytic in the spectral parameter \(\lambda\) and in a vector of the scalar physical parameter \(p\). The matrix formulation of boundary conditions is implemented in a computer algebra system for an automatic derivation of the adjoint eigenvalue problem and the perturbed eigenvalues and eigenvectors. Based on the eigenelements of the unperturbed problem, explicit formulae are derived for the bifurcation of semisimple multiple eigenvalues under a small variation of the parameters. This general technique is applied to the investigation of the onset of oscillatory instability in a rotating string, and also to an extended Beck's column with and without elastic foundation. Chapter 8 is devoted to Ziegler-Bottema destabilization paradox observed in many nonconservative continuous circulatory systems in solid and fluid mechanics. Chapter 9 investigates the role of the Krein signature of the eigenvalues and the variation of the boundary conditions in an oscillatory magnetohydrodynamical dynamo, which is an example of destabilization in a heavily damped system in the presence of gyroscopic forces. In Chapter 10, the author studies the Campbell diagram gyroscopic control by means of the Krein signature in the destabilization of bending waves in gyroscopic continua in the presence of frictional contact. This theory is applied to supercritical flutter phenomena. Chapter 11 develops the theory of non-Hermitian perturbation of Hermitian matrices with application in hydrodynamics (buoyancy-driven thermal Rossby waves) and in optics (birefringent absorptive and chiral media). Chapter 12 is devoted to magnetorotational instability in axial and helical magnetic fields (more concretely to bifurcational phenomena in cylindrical Couette-Taylor flows) to the Velikhov-Chandrasekhar paradox (astrophysics and celestial mechanics), and to stability analysis of the bifurcating solutions.