Stability of linear systems in second-order form based on structure preserving similarity transformations (Q894943)

From the authors' abstract: This paper deals with two stability aspects of linear systems of the form \[ I\ddot{x} + B\dot{x} + Cx = 0 \] given by the triple \((I, B, C)\). A general transformation scheme is given for a structure and Jordan form preserving transformation of the triple. We investigate how a system can be transformed by suitable choices of the transformation parameters into a new system \((I, B_1, C_1)\) with a symmetrizable matrix \(C_1\). This procedure facilitates stability investigations. We also consider systems with a Hamiltonian spectrum which discloses marginal stability after a Jordan form preserving transformation.