Mei symmetries and Mei conserved quantities for higher-order nonholonomic constraint systems**Project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 10372053).

Abstract

This paper presents the Mei symmetries and new types of non-Noether conserved quantities for a higher-order nonholonomic constraint mechanical system. On the basis of the form invariance of differential equations of motion for dynamical functions under general infinitesimal transformation, the determining equations, the constraint restriction equations and the additional restriction equations of Mei symmetries of the system are constructed. The criterions of Mei symmetries, weak Mei symmetries and strong Mei symmetries of the system are given. New types of conserved quantities, i.e. the Mei symmetrical conserved quantities, the weak Mei symmetrical conserved quantities and the strong Mei symmetrical conserved quantities of a higher-order nonholonomic system, are obtained. Then, a deduction of the first-order nonholonomic system is discussed. Finally, two examples are given to illustrate the application of the method and then the results.