Slow-fast dynamics in the truss core sandwich plate under excitations with high and low frequencies

Abstract

In this manuscript, slow-fast motions in a two degrees of freedom model under slow parametric and fast external excitations are analyzed using analytical and numerical methods. By expressing the state variables as the sums of slowly varying average and fast oscillations, the averaged equations which govern the slow dynamics for different magnitudes of external amplitude are obtained. For the averaged equations, analyzation about the equilibria and the corresponding stability shows that, the averaged slow manifolds constitute a pitchfork structure. Meanwhile, the harmonic balancing method is used to compute the slowly varying envelopes of the fast oscillations. On the other hand, bifurcation diagrams of the fast sub-system show structures in accordance with the pitchfork obtained from averaged equations as well as the amplitude curves computed by harmonic balancing method. Two forms of relative location between the folds of cycle on the handle and pitchfork bifurcation point are presented. Based on these, concerning on the slow-fast flow, two patterns of transition behavior between the handle and the upper (lower) branch of pitchfork namely “pitchfork/pitchfork” and “fold/pitchfork” types are analyzed, which indicate the dynamic buckling behaviors. Particularly, discussion about the influence of external excitation shows that, for case of near-resonant external frequency, increasing the amplitude of external excitation will change the local structures as well as the quantitative properties of the pitchfork, but holistic form of pitchfork type is a topological invariant.