Nonlinear modal analysis of structural systems using multi-mode invariant manifolds (Q5960065)

The paper presents an approach, based on the center manifold theorem, to reducing the dimension of nonlinear time-delay systems composed of both stiff and soft structures. To complete the reduction process, the dynamic equations of a delayed system are first formulated as a set of singular perturbed equations that exhibit dynamic behavior evolving in two different time scales. In terms of the fast time scale, the dynamic equation, of the system can be converted into the standard form of a functional differential equation in critical cases, namely, to a form that can be treated by means of the center manifold theorem. Then the approximated center manifold is determined by solving a series of boundary value problems. The center manifold theorem ensures that the dominant dynamics of the system can be described by a set of ordinary differential equations of low order, the dimension of which is identical to that of the phase space of slowly variable states. As an application of the proposed approach, a stability analysis is made for a quarter car model equipped with an active suspension with a time delay caused by a hydraulic actuator.