INTERNAL RESONANCES AND BIFURCATIONS OF AN ARRAY BELOW THE FIRST PULL-IN INSTABILITY

Abstract

A nonlinear continuum model is used to investigate the dynamic behavior of an array of N nonlinearly coupled microbeams. Investigations concentrate on the region below the array's first pull-in instability, which is shown to be governed by several internal three-to-one and combination resonances. The nonlinear equations of motion for a two-element system are solved using the asymptotic multiple-scales method for the weak nonlinear system. The analytically obtained periodic response of two coupled microbeams is numerically evaluated by a continuation technique and complemented by a numerical analysis of a three-element array which exhibits quasi-periodic responses and lengthy chaotic transients. This study of small-size microbeam arrays serves for design purposes and the understanding of nonlinear nearest-neighbor interactions of medium- and large-size arrays.