Nonlinear Dynamics and Bifurcations of an Axially Moving Beam

Abstract

The present paper analyzes the dynamic behavior of a simply supported beam subjected to an axial transport of mass. The Galerkin method is used to discretize the problem: a high dimensional system of ordinary differential equations with linear gyroscopic part and cubic nonlinearities is obtained. The system is studied in the sub and super-critical speed ranges with emphasis on the stability and the global dynamics that exhibits special features after the first bifurcation. A sample case of a physical beam is developed and numerical results are presented concerning the convergence of the series expansion, linear subcritical behavior, bifurcation analysis and stability, and direct simulation of global postcritical dynamics. A homoclinic orbit is found in a high dimensional phase space and its stability and collapse are studied. [S0739-3717(00)00501-8]