Bursting phenomenon in a piecewise mechanical system with parameter perturbation in stiffness

•A piecewise mechanical system with different time scales is investigated.•The existence condition of bursting phenomenon is studied.•The transitions of bursting behaviors are analytically explained.•The slow–fast analysis is used to reveal the generation mechanism.

In this paper the existence condition and generation mechanism of the possible bursting phenomenon in a piecewise mechanical system with different time scales are studied. As an example of mechanical systems, a piecewise linear oscillator with parameter perturbation in stiffness and subject to external excitation is examined. The order gaps between the time scales are considered in the model, which are related to the periodic excitation and the changing rates of the variables. The focus-type periodic bursting oscillation with two time scales is presented, and the corresponding generation mechanism is revealed by using slow–fast analysis method. Furthermore, the analytical solution of piecewise linear subsystem as well as the stability condition of the fast subsystem are explored to explain the transition of bursting behaviors coming from the variation of intrinsic parameter and external excitation. The results about bursting phenomenon and its generation mechanism would provide important theoretical basis on the mechanical manufacturing and engineering practice.