Abstract: We focus our
attention to a nonlinear beam coupled in a sandwich manner with a linear beam.
The dynamical behaviour of the nonlinear beam with hinged ends is described by
the catastrophic single well potential.
The linear beam serves as a control element used to reduce the amplitude of
vibration of the nonlinear beam. The range of coupling or control parameters
that can produce an effective control (reduction of amplitude) is determined. A
particular attention is also focussed on the critical force that can produce
catastrophic motion.
Keywords and phrases: beam, modelling, control, escape.
