NONPERIODIC MOTION CAUSED BY GRAZING-INCIDENCE IN AN IMPACT OSCILLATOR

The motion of a single-degree-of-freedom, periodically forced oscillator subjected to a rigid amplitude constraint is considered. Using analytical methods, the singularities caused by grazing impact are studied. It is shown that as a stable periodic orbit comes to grazing impact under the control of a single parameter, a special type of bifurcation occurs. The motion after the bifurcation may be non-periodic, and a criterion for this based on orientation and eigenvalues is given. © 1991.