Realistic
models of the physical world are nonlinear, involving large amplitudes of
motion and thus usually several equilibria of the system concerned. This course
gives the background for the analysis and synthesis (design) of dynamic
behaviour of general networks, which represent a large class of nonlinear
systems, predominantly physical and in particular mechanical. Research projects
will involve the application of nonlinear techniques to analyse the properties
of nonlinear systems. It is essential that the
student
is well-versed in one of the computing languages or computer algebra systems
such as Mathematica.
The major topics that we will be covered are
the following:
·
Systems
of First-Order Linear Equations: systems of linear algebraic equations;
linear independence; eignevalues; eigenvectors; homogeneous linear systems with
constant coefficients; complex eigenvalues; repeated eignenvalues;
·
Nonlinear
Differential Equations and Stability; the phase plane; autonomous systems
and stability; almost linear systems; Lyapunov’s Second Method; periodic
solutions and limit cycles; chaos and strange attractors.