Low-velocity impacts of quasiperiodic oscillations

A method based on the idea of a discontinuity mapping is derived for predicting the characteristics of system attractors that occur following a grazing intersection of a two-frequency, quasiperiodic oscillation with a two-dimensional impact surface in a three-dimensional state space. Within certain restrictions, the correction to the non-impacting flow afforded by the discontinuity mapping is computable using quantities determined solely by the non-impacting flow and the properties of the impact surface and the associated impact mapping in the immediate vicinity of the initial grazing contact. A model example is discussed to illustrate the quantitative predictive power of the discontinuity-mapping approach even relatively far away in parameter space from the original grazing intersection. Finally, constraints on the applicability of the methodology are described in detail with suggestions for suitable modifications. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.