Vibration control of nonlinear viscoelastic systems with displacement delay feedback

In this study, the nonlinear vibration characteristics of a nonlinear Zener model under harmonic excitation, equipped with linear and nonlinear displacement delay feedback control, were investigated. The amplitude–frequency curve of the system’s main resonance was computed using the multi-scale method. Stability conditions for the system were then established based on the Lyapunov stability theory. The influence of several parameters on the system’s dynamic behavior was also analyzed, including time delay, displacement feedback gain coefficient, nonlinear term coefficient, damping coefficient, and external excitation. The findings revealed that the nonlinear displacement feedback gain coefficient was observed to exert a more substantial effect on the system’s amplitude than other factors. Further, the nonlinear displacement delay feedback gain coefficient and time-delay value diminish the amplitude of the vibration, leading all solutions to achieve a stable state. In instances with time-delay control, the impact of the main system parameters on system vibration was significantly diminished. The aim of this study is to provide a theoretical basis for the implementation of displacement delay controllers in nonlinear viscoelastic systems.