On Periodic Motions in the First-Order Nonlinear Systems

In this paper, analytical solutions of periodic motions in the first-order nonlinear dynamical system are discussed from the finite Fourier series expression. The first-order nonlinear dynamical system is transformed to the dynamical system of coefficients in the Fourier series. From investigation of such dynamical system of coefficients, the analytical solutions of periodic motions are obtained, and the corresponding stability and bifurcation of periodic motions will be determined. In fact, this method provides a frequency-response analysis of periodic motions in nonlinear dynamical systems, which is alike the Laplace transformation of periodic motions for nonlinear dynamical systems. The harmonic frequency-amplitude curves are obtained for different-order harmonic terms in the Fourier series. Through such frequency-amplitude curves, the nonlinear characteristics of periodic motions in the first-order nonlinear system can be determined. From analytical solutions, the initial conditions are obtained for numerical simulations. From such initial conditions, numerical simulations are completed in comparison of the analytical solutions of periodic motions.