1. Introduction
The Wilberforce pendulum is a mechanical device that ingeniously couples the translational and rotational degrees of freedom of a non-point mass attached to a spring [
1]. The mass undergoes two motions: the first is vertical, driven by the spring’s translational restoring force, and the second is rotational around the axis of translation, also due to the spring’s torsional properties [
2,
3]. Basically, spring stretches and contracts vertically, and twists and untwists around that same translational axis. British physicist Lionel Robert Wilberforce invented it and published his findings in 1896 [
1].
Newton’s second law, Hamiltonian, or Lagrangian dynamics can describe this device’s physical behavior [
4,
5,
6,
7]. If we work with the latter, we can clearly postulate how the coupling terms appear in the dynamical system and how they impact the laws that describe the device [
5,
6,
7]. This approach from classical mechanics has two approximations: one linear and the other nonlinear. In scenario one, the linear coupling term is ϵyθ. Here, ϵ represents a phenomenological coupling constant that determines the strength of the nonlinear interaction, y refers to the translational coordinate, and θ describes rotational motion [
5,
6,
7]. These terms, together with the kinetic and potential energy of each element of the system, generate a pair of coupled linear equations, whose key prediction is the emergence of beat-like behavior between the translational and rotational coordinates. In the second scenario, the reference's nonlinearity is proportional to ϵ(yθ)
2 and can be modeled as a perturbative term describing the system’s phase-space structure [
7].
On the other hand, in recent decades new analytical methods, called solitary wave methods, have emerged to tackle the difficult and very arduous task of obtaining analytical solutions to nonlinear ordinary or partial differential equations. Among these new methods, we can mention the highly important work of W. Malfliet, in which a very insightful strategy is devised to express the solution in terms of solitary waves, offering the advantage that the solution to a given differential equation can be established as a finite sum of hyperbolic tangent terms and their derivatives [
8]. Similarly, alternative approaches exist, like those using Riccati equation solutions, which build on Malfliet’s idea by representing the desired solution as a finite sum of Riccati solutions [
9]. Auxiliary differential equations yield multiple solution families, each as a finite sum satisfying the equation. Solitary wave methods improved by applying Jacobi elliptic functions. When we set combinations of analytical solutions of the Jacobi differential equation [reference], this drives a significant deep insight into the number of solutions discovered. This improved solitary wave technique now provides advanced solutions for Klein–Gordon equations with quadratic perturbations. This study aims to employ solitary wave methods in analyzing the Wilberforce nonlinear oscillation system. Finally, we present additional results for certain cases given by Jacobi elliptic and Mathieu functions that enlighten how this complex nonlinear oscillator behaves.
2. The Lagrangian Model
A lagrangian that gives into accounts the nonlinear coupling in the system is [
7]:
The nonlinear equations are.
With, and and . Where is the moment of inertia, m the mass, is the spring constant, is the rotational spring constant, and is the term that accounts for the coupling between the rotational and translational degrees of freedom.
3. Approximate Solutions
3.1. Specific Case: ,
If we assume that
,
This equation becomes a solution of the harmonic oscillator.
Substituting into Equation (2)
Using
,
This reduces to a Mathieu equation [
8,
9]
The solution is.
where,
and
are constants determined from initial condition, and
is the even periodic Mathieu functions and
are the odd Mathieu functions and
is an integer indexing the characteristic values.
Figure 1.
Phase space, mass m=1, Equation (10).
Figure 1.
Phase space, mass m=1, Equation (10).
3.2. Specific Case:
Also, we have the case where
equal frequencies, we suppose a proportional solution
having
as a constant. So, the system of equations (2) and (3) reduce to
The system reduces to the Duffing equation [
10].
Doing
and
. If we define
and
and
, and following reference [
8,
11], we postulate a solution given by
where A is an amplitude and
is the Jacobi elliptic function [
8,
11], and using the second derivative, we get:
3.3. Specific Case: Complex Solutions
Also, we postulate solutions [
4], given by
Replacing in Equation (2-3)
The frequencies of the normal modes are.
A general solution
is:
Taking initial conditions as
and
Figure 1.
Beating behavior Equation (21).
Figure 1.
Beating behavior Equation (21).
3.4. Specific Case:
,
In the same way we suppose solution given by
having
as a constant. Therefore, equations (2) and (3) become:
The integrating factor is
,
Which is the Weierstrass Elliptic differential equation
And
Weierstrass elliptic function. If we want to deplete the quadratic term in equation (26), we define.
where
and
are parameters. Defining
, and in equation (23),
. We obtain.
4. Solitary Wave Solutions
4.1. Tanh Solitary Wave Method
We use the Tanh solitary wave method [
12], where the solution is:
The derivatives of
, are.
Replacing in equations (2)-(3):
Now, balancing the highest-order linear derivative with the highest order nonlinear terms in equations (25)-(26):
Replacing in equations (25)-(26):
Then, we get a set of equations, order by order in
. Applying algebra yields:
Then, equations (35)-(38) determine , and .
4.2. Riccati Solitary Wave Method
Also, we use the Riccati solitary wave method [
13]
where
is the solution of
Here
and
are constants,
Table 1. Again, balancing nonlinear terms in equations (1)-(2), We have m=1, n = 1. Therefore, the solutions and their derivatives are:
Table 1.
List of solutions to equation (42).
Table 1.
List of solutions to equation (42).
|
|
F |
| 1/2 |
-1/2 |
coth(t) ±cosh(t), tanh(t), ±isech(t) |
| 1/2 |
1/2 |
sec(t) ± itan(t), |
| -1/2 |
-1/2 |
csc(t) ± icot(t), |
| 1 |
-1 |
coth(t), tanh(t), |
| 1 |
1 |
tan(t), |
| -1 |
-1 |
cot(t), |
Replacing in equations (2)-(3)
We obtain a set of algebraic equations and solving them, we get a set of family’s solutions.
where
, represents a complex number. The solutions are:
4.3. Soliton Solitary Wave Method
Also, introduce a new solitary wave method, [
14]
where
is the solution of
And , and are parameters, and J the solution. Again, balancing
nonlinear terms in equations (2)-(3), we have m=1, n = 1. Then, equations (53) are:
Then, equations (54) are:
Again, we get a set of equations, order by order in
, and by doing algebra, we get:
Table 1.
List of solutions to equation (55).
Table 1.
List of solutions to equation (55).
|
|
|
|
T |
| -1 |
|
1 |
1 |
sn() |
| -1 |
|
|
1 |
cn(), |
| -1 |
1 |
|
1 |
dn(), |
| -1 |
|
1 |
1 |
cd(), |
|
|
1 |
1 |
sd(), |
|
1 |
-1 |
1 |
nd(),
|
| 1 |
1 |
|
-1 |
dc(), |
| 1 |
|
|
-1 |
nc(), |
| 1 |
|
1 |
1 |
sc(), |
| 1 |
1 |
|
-1 |
ns(), |
| 1 |
1 |
|
|
ds() |
| 1 |
1 |
|
1 |
cs(), |
4.4. Elliptic Solitary Wave Method 1
We employ a Jacobi solitary wave method, [
15]
where
is the solution of
And a, b, c and
are parameters, and T the solution (referencia Jacobi). Again, balancing nonlinear terms in equations (1)-(2), we have r=1, s = 1, in summations (46). Then
The movement equations (1)-(2) are:
Then, we obtain a group of coupled equations, order by order in
. After performing algebraic operations, the result is as follows:
For all the six families of solutions
. So, the solutions are:
To show the result, we apply the first row that defines the solution of sn Jacobi elliptic function in table (1), and the conditions exposed in the family of solutions
Figure 2.
Jacobi elliptic function solution sn.
Figure 2.
Jacobi elliptic function solution sn.
Following with results, we apply the second row that defines the solution of cn Jacobi elliptic function in table (1), and the conditions exposed in the family of solutions
Figure 3.
Jacobi elliptic function sn governing and .
Figure 3.
Jacobi elliptic function sn governing and .
4.5. Elliptic Solitary Wave Method 2
Finally, a more sophisticated solitary wave method [
16]
where
is the solution of
And a, b and
are parameters, and G the solution. Again, balancing nonlinear terms in equations (2)-(3), so m=1, n = 1. Then, equations (54) are:
Then, equations (54) are:
Then, we get a set of equations, order by order in
, and by doing some algebra, we get:
5. Conclusions
Extending the linear Wilberforce pendulum to the nonlinear system poses a complex analytical problem, and to date no analytical solution is known. When we consider special cases—parameter-space restrictions that define the equations of motion—we find approximate equations such as the Duffing equation, the Mathieu equation and Weierstrass elliptic differential equation; similarly, by assuming complex exponential solutions, we observe beating behavior when frequencies are close. Given these perspectives on the complexity of the problem, we turn to novel and up-to-date analytical tools that have proven their worth in various fields of physics and are known as solitary wave solutions. For the problem under consideration, we have applied the tanh method, one of the original methods, Riccati solutions, and two tools based on Jacobi function solutions. We have found a respectable number of solutions demonstrating the method’s capabilities. In this same vein, new types of couplings between rotational and translational variables can be designed to reflect internal geometric symmetries in the system’s Lagrangian—for example, invariance under coordinate exchange, under multiplication of the degrees of freedom by a complex phase, or under rotations in the internal coordinate space.
Funding
This research was funded by Universidad Nacional de Colombia through Hermes Project 64072 and sabbatical year under resolution 2445 of the Faculty of Sciences Universidad Nacional de Colombia, September 27, 2024.
Conflicts of Interest
The author declares no conflicts of interest.
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