Nonlinear normal modes of coupled self-excited oscillators in regular and chaotic vibration regimes

Vibration analysis of coupled self-excited nonlinear oscillators have been studied in the paper. Possible regular motion generated by nonlinear damping has been determined by extracting Nonlinear Normal Modes (NNM) from the model. Influence of the nonlinear terms and intensity of self-excitation on the system response and vibration modes have been presented. Parameters leading to chaotic motion have been found and Nonlinear Normal Modes, which may appear nearby the chaotic response have been presented as well. The considered two degree of freedom example shows that the autonomous system (without time dependent excitation) may transit to chaotic vibrations if the system posseses a potential function with "potential wells". However, NNMs separated for a very sensitive region close to chaotic vibrations, does not converge with motion of the original system in the third approximation order.