Extended framework of Hamilton’s principle for single-degree-of-freedom nonlinear damping systems

Abstract

The paper explores application of the variational formalism called extended framework of Hamilton’s principle to nonlinear damping systems. Single-degree-of-freedom systems with dominant source of nonlinearity from polynomial powers of the velocity are initially considered. Appropriate variational formulation is provided, and then the corresponding weak form is discretized to produce a novel computational method. The resulting low-order temporal finite element method utilizes non-iterative algorithm, and some examples are provided to verify its performance. The present temporal finite element method using small time step is equivalent to the adaptive Runge–Kutta–Fehlberg method with default error tolerances in MATLAB, and additional simulation shows its good convergence characteristics.