The Response of a Rayleigh–Liénard Oscillator to a Fundamental Resonance

Abstract

A Rayleigh–Lienard oscillator excited by a fundamentalresonance is investigated by using an asymptotic perturbation method based on Fourier expansion and time rescaling. Two first-order nonlinear ordinarydifferential equations governing the modulation of the amplitude andthe phase of solutions are derived. These equations are used todetermine steady-state responses and their stability. Excitationamplitude-response and frequency-response curves are shown and checkedby numerical integration. Dulac's criterion, the Poincare–Bendixsontheorem, and energy considerations are used in order to study the existenceand characteristics of limit cycles of the two modulation equations. Alimit cycle corresponds to a modulated motion for the Rayleigh–Lienardoscillator. For small excitation amplitude, the analytical results arein excellent agreement with the numerical solutions. In certain caseswhen the excitation amplitude is very low, an approximate analyticsolution corresponding to a modulated motion can be obtained andnumerically checked. Moreover, if the excitation amplitude is increased,an infinite-period bifurcation occurs because the modulation periodlengthens and becomes infinite, while the modulation amplitude remainsfinite and suddenly the attractor settles down into a periodic motion.