Analytical approximation of weakly nonlinear continuous systems using renormalization group method

A direct method based on renormalization group method (RGM) is proposed for determining the analytical approximation of weakly nonlinear continuous systems. To demonstrate the application of the method, we use it to analyze some examples. First, we analyze the vibration of a beam resting on a nonlinear elastic foundation with distributed quadratic and cubic nonlinearities in the cases of primary and subharmonic resonances of the nth mode. We apply the RGM to the discretized governing equation and also directly to the governing partial differential equations (PDE). The results are in full agreement with those previously obtained with multiple scales method. Second, we obtain higher order approximation for free vibrations of a beam resting on a nonlinear elastic foundation with distributed cubic nonlinearities. The method is applied to the discretized governing equation as well as directly to the governing PDE. The proposed method is capable of producing directly higher order approximation of weakly nonlinear continuous systems. It is shown that the higher order approximation of discretization and direct methods are not in general equal. Finally, we analyze the previous problem in the case that the governing differential equation expressed in complex-variable form. The results of second order form and complex-variable form are not in agreement. We observe that in use of RGM in higher order approximation of continuous systems, the equations must not be treated in second order form. (C) 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.