Modal Analysis to Interpret Localization Phenomena of Harmonic Oscillations in Nonlinear Oscillator Arrays

This paper investigates localization phenomena in a nonlinear array with N Duffing oscillators connected by weak, linear springs when the array is subjected to harmonic excitation. In the theoretical analysis, the equations of motion are derived for: (1) the physical coordinate system, and (2) modal coordinate system. The modal equations of motion form an autoparametric system, i.e., the excitation acts directly on the first mode of vibration, and the other modes are indirectly excited because they are nonlinearly coupled with the first mode. Van der Pol’s method is employed to obtain the solutions of the harmonic oscillations, and then the expressions of the frequency response curves are given. In the numerical calculations, the frequency response curves of the amplitudes and phase angles in the cases of N = 2 and 3 are presented. The frequency response curves, obtained in the modal coordinate system, demonstrate that localization phenomena occur in the physical coordinate system when multiple vibrational modes simultaneously appear. When imperfections exist in the N Duffing oscillators, the modal equations of motion do not form an autoparametric system because the external excitation directly acts on all modes. Instead, internal resonances may occur in such systems.