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TB 26-08 Complex Modes in Lightly Damped Structural Systems: A Two-Mode Interaction Perspective

For more information, contact Joel W. Sills, Langley Research Center, joel.w.sills@nasa.gov Download the PDF version Complex mode shapes can emerge in a linear structure even when overall damping is low. This behavior can occur when two structural modes are closely spaced in frequency and are coupled through nonproportional damping. As the damping interaction increases, the […]

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Scientists find that “perfect” systems may be surprisingly fragile

Complex systems may work better when their parts are not perfectly alike. Northwestern physicists found that carefully balanced variation, or “disorder,” can make networks such as power grids, ecosystems, neurons, and materials more stable. Even random differences sometimes improved stability compared with completely uniform systems. The discovery could help researchers design more resilient technologies and explain why natural systems are so rarely perfectly uniform.

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Topic: Complex | RocksNews