9309165 Coppola This research project deals with the development and application of perturbation methods for obtaining solutions of strongly nonlinear dynamic systems. By providing accurate analytical approximations of motion, the perturbation analysis permit the development of improved design guidelines and control strategies. They also add to the insights into the effects of nonlinearities by measuring the influence of parameters on system response. The method of averaging, employed in this research, involves a near- identity transformation of variables which simplifies the equations of motion by separating responses over fast and slow time scales. The result is a reduced system of equations which is simpler to analyze that the original equations. A symbolic computational scheme is utilized in this research project. The method has capabilities of having immediate impact on understanding complex systems such as the satellite attitude and orbital motion, and exploring generic behavior of a variety of highly nonlinear dynamic systems.
