On the coupling of non-linear normal modes

The phenomenon of internal resonance is known as the exchange of energy between the modes and the existence of coupled-mode response under a single-mode excitation. This phenomenon is observed whenever a non-linear normal mode loses its stability, called the modal coupling. The details of modal coupling are formulated in the free vibrations of two-degree-of-freedom systems, and compared with internal resonance. The theory is based on the structural change in Poincaré map due to the stability change of normal modes. It is shown that every change in stability of normal modes gives rise to a pitchfork or a period-doubling bifurcation. The functional form is derived to compute the coupled modes by the method of harmonic balance. Examples are given to describe the procedure of stability analysis of non-linear normal modes, to compute the coupled modes, and then to demonstrate that results of internal resonances can be derived by model coupling. Other examples are given to demonstrate that the results of some modal couplings cannot be obtained by internal resonances.