Effects on the bifurcation and chaos in forced Duffing oscillator due to nonlinear damping

In this communication, the two-well Duffing oscillator with non-linear damping term proportional to the power of velocity is considered. We mainly focus our attention on how the damping exponent affects the global dynamical behaviour of the oscillator. In particular, we obtain analytically the threshold condition for the occurrence of homoclinic bifurcation using Melnikov technique and compare the results with the computational results. We also identify the major route to chaos and the regions of the 2D parameter space (consists of external forcing amplitude and damping coefficient) corresponding to the various types of asymptotic dynamics under linear (viscous or friction like) and nonlinear (drag like) damping. We also attempt to analyze how the basins of attraction patterns change with the introduction of nonlinear damping. We also present our analysis for the physically less-interesting cases where damping is proportional to the 3rd and 4th power of velocity for the sake of generalizing our findings and establishing firm conclusion.

► The effect of nonlinear damping on the dynamical behaviour of forced Duffing oscillator has been analyzed.
► Extensive Lyapunov exponent computation and Melnikov analysis have been used for the study.
► The regions of 2D parameter space corresponding to the various types of asymptotic dynamics have also been identified.
► The effect on the basin of attraction patterns due to nonlinear damping has also been analyzed and discussed.