Bifurcation analysis of a non-linear hysteretic oscillator under harmonic excitation

The steady state oscillations of a system incorporating a non-linear hysteretic damper are studied analytically by applying a perturbation technique. The hysteretic damper of the system subject to harmonic resonant force is modelled by combining a Maxwellʹs model and Kelvin–Voigtʹs model in series. The non-linearity is imposed by replacing a spring element by a cubic-non-linear spring. The response of the system is described by two coupled second order differential equations including a non-linear constitutive equation. Proper rescaling of the variables and parameters of the equations of motion leads to a set of weakly non-linear equations of motion to which the method of averaging is applied. The bifurcation analysis of the reduced four-dimensional amplitude- and phase-equations of motion shows typical non-linear behaviors including saddle-node and Hopf bifurcations and separate solution branch. By the stability analysis, the saddle-node and Hopf bifurcation sets are obtained in parameter spaces. The software package AUTO is used to numerically study the bifurcation sets and limit cycle solutions bifurcating from the Hopf bifurcation points. It is shown that the limit cycle responses of the averaged system exist over broad parameter ranges.