Local bifurcations of synchronization in self-excited and forced unidirectionally coupled micromechanical resonators

A unidirectionally coupled system of Microelectromechanical Systems (MEMS) resonators is investigated. Local bifurcations of both the single resonator and the coupled system are analyzed in the design of the coupled system. We discuss the behavior of the coupled system according to the change in the coupling parameter and the excitation force. Phenomena such as quasiperiodic oscillations and synchronization are shown by numerical simulations and studied analytically through perturbation methods. The coupled system shows oscillatory behavior without the excitation force. In the presence of the excitation force the coupled system exhibits complex behavior which can be beneficial in the design of the coupled system as a sensor.

► Design process of a single MEMS resonator with nonlinear behavior is shown.
► Local bifurcations of single resonator and coupled system are analyzed.
► Coupled MEMS resonators can oscillate at a certain value of the coupling strength.
► Excitation force can induce quasiperiodicity, phase-locking, and full entrainment.