Lie transformation method for dynamical systems having chaotic behavior

Abstract

The paper persents recent developments in a singular perturbation method, known as the “Lie transformation method” for the analysis of nonlinear dynamical systems having chaotic behavior. A general approximate solution for a system of first-order differential equations having algebraic nonlinearities is introduced. Past applications to simple dynamical nonlinear models have shown that this method yields highly accurate solutions of the systems. In the present paper the capability of this method is extended to the analysis of dynamical systems having chaotic behavior: indeed, the presence of “small divisors” in the general expression of the solution suggests a modification of the method that is necessary in order to analyze nonlinear systems having chaotic behavior (indeed, even non-simple-harmonic behavior). For the case of Hamiltonian systems this is consistent with the KAM (Kolmogorov-Arnold-Moser) theory, which gives the limits of integrability for such systems; in contrast to the KAM theory, the present formulation is not limited to conservative systems. Applications to a classic aeroelastic problem (panel flutter) are also included.