Analytical and numerical bifurcation analysis of circuits based on nonlinear resonators

Abstract

This work presents new frequency-domain methods for the analysis and simulation of circuits based on a nonlinear resonator, with operation ranges delimited by turning points. Insightful analytical conditions fulfilled at these turning points are derived, which will enable an identification of the effect of each circuit element on their location in the solution curve. The cusp points, or co-dimension two bifurcations at which two turning points merge into one, thus delimiting the multivalued intervals, are directly calculated for the first time to our knowledge. In addition, a new numerical method, compatible with the use of commercial harmonic balance, is presented for the straightforward tracing of the multivalued solution curves, together with a new procedure to determine the locus of turning points in terms of any two analysis parameters. This relies on the use of a new mathematical condition to obtain a surface of turning points in the space defined by the two parameters and the input power. The methods have been applied to a wireless power-transfer system based on a recently proposed configuration, obtaining very good agreement with the experimental results.