Routes to escape from an energy well

Dynamical systems characterized by the possibility of escape from a local potential energy well occur in a great many physical problems, including a rigid-arm pendulum passing over its inverted equilibrium position, snap-through buckling in arch and shell structures, and capsizing of ships. This is a thoroughly non-linear problem and has received substantial recent attention, especially using techniques based on numerical simulation. The current paper confirms much of these earlier findings using a mechanical experiment which mimics the behavior of a typical “escape” non-linear ordinary differential equation. © 1995 by Academic Press, Inc.

Duke Scholars

Author Lawrence N. Virgin Thomas Lord Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materia ...

Author Earl H. Dowell Thomas Lord Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materia ...