Damped transition of a strongly nonlinear system of coupled oscillators into a state of continuous resonance scattering

We examine analytically and experimentally a new phenomenon of 'continuous resonance scattering' in an impulsively excited, two-mass oscillating system. This system consists of a grounded damped linear oscillator with a light, strongly nonlinear attachment. Previous numerical simulations revealed that for certain levels of initial excitation, the system engages in a special type of response that appears to track a solution branch formed by the so-called 'impulsive orbits' of this system. By this term we denote the periodic (under conditions of resonance) or quasi-periodic (under conditions of non-resonance) responses of the system when a single impulse is applied to the linear oscillator with the system being initially at rest. By varying the magnitude of the impulse we obtain a manifold of impulsive orbits in the frequency-energy plane. It appears that the considered damped system is capable of entering into a state of continuous resonance scattering, whereby it tracks the impulsive orbit manifold with decreasing energy. Through analytical treatment of the equations of motion, a direct relationship is established between the frequency of the nonlinear attachment and the amplitude of the linear oscillator response, and a prediction of the system response during continuous scattering resonance is provided. Experimental results confirm the analytical predictions.