The stability of linear potential gyroscopic systems

The stability of linear potential systems with a degenerate matrix of gyroscopic forces is investigated. Particular attention is devoted to the case of three degrees of freedom. In a development of existing results [Kozlov VV. Gyroscopic stabilization and parametric resonance. Prikl. Mat. Mekh. 2001; 65(5): 739-745], the sufficient conditions for gyroscopic stability are obtained. An algorithm for applying these conditions is proposed using the example of the problem of the motion of two mutually gravitating bodies, each of them being modelled by two equal point masses, connected by weightless inextensible rods.