Non-linear oscillations of a Hamiltonian system with 2:1 resonance

Non-linear oscillations of an autonomous Hamiltonian system with two degrees of freedom in the neighbourhood of a stable equilibrium are considered. It is assumed that the frequency ratio of the linear oscillations is close to or equal to two, and that the Hamiltonian is sign-definite in the neighbourhood of the equilibrium. A solution is presented to the problem of the orbital stability of periodic motions emanating from the equilibrium position. Conditionally periodic motions of an approximate system are analysed taking into account terms of order up to and including three in the normalized Hamiltonian. The KAM theory is used to consider the problem of maintaining these motions taking into account fourth- and higher-order terms in the series expansion of the Hamiltonian in a sufficiently small neighbourhood of the equilibrium. The results are used to investigate nonlinear oscillations of an elastic pendulum. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.