Melnikov Chaos in a Modified Rayleigh–Duffing Oscillator with ϕ6 Potential

Abstract

The chaotic behavior of the modified Rayleigh–Duffing oscillator with [Formula: see text] potential and external excitation is investigated both analytically and numerically. The so-called oscillator models, for example, ship rolling motions. The single well and triple well potential cases are considered. Melnikov method is applied and the conditions for the existence of homoclinic and heteroclinic chaos are obtained. The effects of nonlinear damping on roll motion of ships are analyzed in detail. As it is known, nonlinear roll damping is a very important parameter in estimating ship responses. It is noted that the pure and unpure quadratic damping parameters affect the Melnikov criterion in the heteroclinic and homoclinic cases respectively while the pure cubic parameter affects the amplitude in both cases. The predictions have been tested with numerical simulations based on the basin of attraction. It is pointed out that certain quadratic damping effects are contrary to cubic damping effect.