Complex dynamics of a linear oscillator with a nonlinear attachment

peer reviewedWe study the dynamics of a two-degree-of-freedom (DOF) nonlinear system consisting of a grounded linear oscillator coupled to a light mass by means of an essentially nonlinear (nonlinearizable) stiffness. We show that the structure of periodic orbits of the undamped system greatly influences the damped dynamics, as it causes complicated transitions between modes in the damped transient motion. In addition, there is the possibility of strong passive energy transfer (energy pumping) from the linear oscillator to the nonlinear attachment if certain periodic orbits of the undamped dynamics are excited by the initial conditions.