Global Bifurcation Analysis of a Nonlinear Road Vehicle System

Abstract

This paper investigates the global stability behavior present near a bifurcation point of a nonlinear road vehicle system. The nonlinear behavior of the system is determined by reducing its dimensions according to the center manifold theory applied to a nongeneric case. A generalized Hopf bifurcation is analyzed by unfolding the limit cycle mean amplitude equation into a two-parameter space. The numerical application of the analytical framework demonstrates the coexistence of two limit cycles for certain ranges of physical and driver parameter values.