Nonlinear Dierential Equations,

Electron. J. Di. Eqns., Conf. 05, 2000, pp. 183199

http://ejde.math.swt.edu or http://ejde.math.unt.edu
ftp ejde.math.swt.edu or ejde.math.unt.edu (login: ftp)
Multiple periodic solutions to a suspension bridge
ordinary dierential equation

P. J. McKenna & K. S. Moore
Abstract
We present an ordinary dierential equation which models the tor-
sional motion of a horizontal cross section of a suspension bridge. We
use Leray-Schauder degree theory to prove that the undamped equation
has multiple periodic weak solutions. We use a numerical continuation
algorithm to demonstrate the existence of three periodic solutions (one of
small amplitude and two of large amplitude) and to examine the bifurca-
tion properties of the periodic solutions.
1 Introduction
In [8], the rst author considered a horizontal cross section of the center span
of a suspension bridge and proposed an ordinary dierential equation model for
the torsional motion of the cross section. Using physical constants from the
engineers reports of the Tacoma Narrows collapse, he investigated this model
numerically. By specifying the initial position and velocity of the cross section
and using the Runge-Kutta method to solve the initial value problem over long
time, he demonstrated that under the same small periodic forcing term, small
or large amplitude periodic motion may result; the ultimate outcome depends
on the initial conditions.
The methodology in the above-mentioned paper was somewhat primitive.
Dierent initial conditions were prescribed randomly and the eventual behav-
ior of the solution of the initial value problem was observed. Sometimes the
motion converged to a large amplitude solution and sometimes to the small
near-equilibrium solution.
In this paper, we present a more systematic approach to the study of the
equation for the torsional motion of a cross section of the center span. We use
Leray-Schauder degree theory to prove that, under certain physical assump-
tions, the undamped equation has multiple periodic solutions. We demonstrate
numerically that for small forcing, multiple periodic solutions exist and that
whether large or small amplitude motion results depends only on the initial

Mathematics Subject Classications: 34C25, 34A47.

Key words: Torsional oscillations, suspension bridge.
c 2000 Southwest Texas State University.
Published October 25, 2000.
183
184 Multiple periodic solutions to a suspension bridge O.D.E.
0 x L
2l
Figure 1: A simple model of the center span
conditions. Finally, we use a more sophisticated approach to compute periodic
solutions of the nonlinear dierential equation. Using continuation methods, we
examine the bifurcation properties of periodic solutions as the amplitude of the
forcing term varies and we demonstrate that bifurcation from single to multiple
periodic solutions occurs for small forcing.
2 The Equation for the Torsional Motion of the
Cross Section
We treat the center span of the bridge as a beam of length L and width 2l
suspended by cables (see gure 1). To model the motion of a horizontal cross
section of the beam, we treat it as a rod of length 2l and mass m suspended
by cables. Let y(t) denote the downward distance of the center of gravity of
the rod from the unloaded state and let (t) denote the angle of the rod from
horizontal at time t (see gure 2).
We assume that the cables do not resist compression, but resist elongation
according to Hookes Law with spring constant K; i.e., the force exerted by the
cable is proportional to the elongation in the cable with proportionality constant
K. In gure 2 we see that the extension in the right hand cable is (y l sin ),
and hence the force exerted by the right hand cable is
K(y l sin )
+
=
_
K(y l sin ) if y l sin 0
0 if y l sin < 0
where u
+
= max{u, 0}. Similarly, the extension in the left hand cable is (y +
l sin ) and the force exerted by the left hand cable is K(y + l sin )
+
.
In [8], the author showed that the torsional and vertical motion satisfy

=
3K
ml
cos [(y l sin )
+
(y + l sin )
+
]
1

+ f(t) (1)
y

=
K
m
[(y l sin )
+
+ (y + l sin )
+
]
2
y

+ g ,
where
1
,
2
are damping constants, g is the force due to gravity, and f(t) is the
external force at time t.
P. J. McKenna & K. S. Moore 185
The vertical
deflection of
the center of
gravity y(x,t)
the deflection from horizontal theta(x,t)
nonlinear cable-like springs
Figure 2: A horizontal cross section of the center span
186 Multiple periodic solutions to a suspension bridge O.D.E.
Assuming that the cables never lose tension, we have y l sin 0 and
hence (y l sin )
+
= (y l sin ). Thus, the equations (1) become uncoupled
and the torsional and vertical motion satisfy

=
6K
m
cos sin
1

+ f(t) (2)
y

=
2K
m
y
2
y

+ g (3)
respectively.
The equation for the vertical motion, (3), is simply the equation for a
damped, forced, linear harmonic oscillator and the behavior of its solutions is
well known, [2]. We will study the equation for the torsional motion (2), which
is the damped, forced, pendulum equation and is known to possess chaotic so-
lutions, [2].
To choose the physical constants K, m, :=
2
and the external forcing term
f(t), we rely on [1], [8], and [12]. From [1], we choose m = 2500 and = .01. To
determine K, from [1] we know that the main span would deect about half a
meter when loaded with 100 kgs per unit length, so we have 100(9.8)2K(.5) =
0 and we take K = 1000.
For a cross section similar to the Tacoma Narrows bridge, wind tunnel ex-
periments indicate that aerodynamic forces induce approximately sinusoidal os-
cillations of amplitude three degrees [12], so in (2) we choose f(t) = sin(t)
where [0, 0.06] is chosen to produce the appropriate behavior near equilib-
rium and the frequency is chosen to match the frequency of the oscillations
observed at Tacoma Narrows on the day of the collapse. The frequency of the
torsional motion was approximately one cycle every 4 or 5 seconds, so we take
[1.2, 1.6].
3 A Multiplicity Theorem
In this section, we prove that undamped equations of the form (2) have multiple
periodic weak solutions. To some extent, this result is inspired by the earlier
results of Castro and Lazer, [3], where they obtained multiple solutions of elliptic
boundary value problems once a critical value, measured by f(0), passes across
key eigenvalues.
Let = (, ), H = {u L
2
()|u(t) = u(t)} and dene Lu = u

.
For u H, let u = u
L
2
()
= (
_

|u|
2
dt)
1
2
. Using cos u sinu =
1
2
sin 2u,
removing the damping term, and imposing periodicity conditions, we rewrite
(2) as
Lu = b sin2u h(t) (4)
u() = u(), u

() = u

()
We observe that the eigenvalues and eigenfunctions of L are

n
= n
2
,
n
(t) = sin nt (5)
hence L
1
exists, is compact, and L
1
= 1.
P. J. McKenna & K. S. Moore 187
Denition We say that u H is a solution to (4) if
u L
1
(b sin2u h) = 0. (6)
We will prove the existence of multiple solutions u H to the problem (4).
Theorem 3.1 Let h H with h 1 and let b (
1
2
, 2). Then there exists

0
> 0 such that if || <
0
, (4) has at least two solutions.
Proof Let <
0
; we will determine the value of
0
later. Note that by (5)
and our choice of b, 2b is not an eigenvalue of L.
Dene T
1
: H H by
T
1
(u) = u L
1
(b sin2u h)
and note that, by (6), zeros of T
1
correspond to solutions of (4). Denote
the Leray-Schauder degree of the map T
1
in the domain U at the point p by
deg(T
1
, U, p). To prove the theorem, we will show
(D1): there exists R
0
> 0 such that for R > R
0
, deg(T
1
, B
R
(0), 0) = 1
(D2): there exists (0, R
0
) such that deg(T
1
, B

(0), 0) = 1
Then, since deg(T
1
, B

(0), 0) = 0, there exists a zero of T

1
(i.e., a solution
of (4)) in B

(0). Moreover, by the additivity property of degree, we have

deg(T
1
, B
R
(0)\B

(0), 0) = 0 and hence (4) has second solution in the annu-

lus B
R
(0)\B

(0).
To establish (D1), dene
T

u = u L
1
(b sin 2u h)
for [0, 1] and note that this denition of T
1
is consistent with our previous
denition. Note also that T
0
is simply the identity map, hence for any R > 0
we have deg(T
0
, B
R
(0), 0) = 1. The homotopy property of degree ensures that
deg(T

, B
R
(0), 0) is constant provided that 0 / T

(B
R
(0)) for all [0, 1].
Fix [0, 1] and suppose u H solves T

u = 0. We will show that u is

bounded above by some R
0
> 0 and that this bound is independent of .
Since T

u = 0, we have
u = L
1
(b sin 2u h)
[
0
+ b sin2u]
[
0
+ bm()
1/2
]
[
0
+ bm()
1/2
]
= [
0
+ b

2] < R
0
if we choose R
0
>
0
+ b

2.
188 Multiple periodic solutions to a suspension bridge O.D.E.
Thus, for R > R
0
we have
deg(T
1
, B
R
(0), 0) = deg(T
0
, B
R
(0), 0) = 1 (7)
and (D1) above holds.
To establish (D2), dene
T

u = u (1 )L
1
(2bu) L
1
(b sin 2u h)
for [0, 1] and note again that this denition of T
1
is consistent with our
previous denitions. We will again apply the homotopy property of degree and
a standard degree calculation to show that for some > 0
deg(T
1
, B

(0), 0) = deg(T
0
, B

(0), 0) = 1. (8)
We will show rst that for any > 0,
deg(T
0
, B

(0), 0) = deg(I 2bL

1
, B

(0), 0) = 1. (9)
Consider the nite dimensional subspace M
N
:=span{
n
}
N
n=1
of H and recall
that, by compactness, 2bL
1
can be approximated in operator norm by the
operators B
N
: M
N
M
N
given by
B
N
(u) = 2b
N

n=1
c
n

n
.
By denition, for N suciently large,
deg(T
0
, B

(0), 0) = deg(I B
N
, B

(0) M
N
, 0)
=

u(IBN)
1
(0)
signJ
IBN
(u)
where J

(u) is the Jacobian determinant of at u.

Since I B
N
can be identied with an NN diagonal matrix whose entries
are 1
2b
n
, we have
deg(I B
N
, B

(0) M
N
, 0) = sign
N

n=1
(1
2b

n
).
Since b (
1
2
, 2) and
n
= n
2
, the only negative value of 1
2b
n
occurs at
1
= 1.
Since the eigenvalues of L are simple, we have
deg(I B
N
, B

(0) M
N
, 0) = 1
and (9) holds.
To establish (8), and hence (D2), we must show that for some > 0,
deg(T
1
, B

(0), 0) = deg(T
0
, B

(0), 0). (10)

P. J. McKenna & K. S. Moore 189
The homotopy property of degree ensures that deg(T

, B

(0), 0) is constant
provided 0 / T

(B

(0)) for all [0, 1]. Observe that u = 0 is the only zero
of T
0
since 2b is not an eigenvalue of L. Fix (0, 1] and suppose that u = 0
solves T

u = 0. Set u =

; we will show that

is bounded below by some

> 0.
Set =
u
u
=
u

. We claim rst that there exists a compact set K with
K. Since u is a zero of T

, u satises
Lu 2bu = (b sin2u 2bu h) (11)
and therefore
Lu = (b sin 2u h) + (1 )2bu.
Thus,
Lu b sin2u h + 2bu
b sin2u + 2b

+
0
bm()
1
2
+ 2b

+
0

2b + 2b

+
0
.
It follows that u L
1
(B

2b+2b +0
(0)), which is compact since L
1
is com-
pact, and thus there exists a compact set K with K.
Since u satises (11), we have
u L
1
2bu = L
1
(b sin 2u 2bu h). (12)
Denote the left and right hand sides of (12) by LHS and RHS respectively.
Since 2b is not an eigenvalue of L, we have L 2b = 0 and hence
inf
K
L
1
2b = > 0
and for our u we have
LHS = u L
1
2bu

. (13)
Now considering the right hand side of (12), we have
RHS b sin2u 2bu h
[
0
+b sin2u 2bu]
= [
0
+b sin(2

) 2b

].
We claim that if

is suciently small, RHS <

, which contradicts (13).

To establish this, we must rst prove the following lemma.
Lemma 3.2 Let K, H, b be as above and denote

by . Then there exists a

function : (0, ) (0, ) such that
(L1): b sin(2) 2b ()
(L2): () 0 as 0
hold for all K, > 0
190 Multiple periodic solutions to a suspension bridge O.D.E.
Proof Dene : (0, ) (0, ) by
() = max
K

sin 2 2b
and note that (L1) above is satised.
To show that (L2) holds, we must show that f

() :=
b

sin 22b 0
uniformly on K as 0. To show that f

0 uniformly on K, well show

that f

() 0 for each K and that the family F := {f

} is equicontinuous
on K.
Choose K, = 0 and note that
b

sin 2 2b = b
sin2
2
2 2b 0
as 0, hence
|
b

sin 2 2b|
2
0.
Moreover, since | sin w| |w| and since w
2
is convex, we have
|
b

sin 2 2b|
2
= 4|
1
2
b

sin2 +
1
2
(2b)|
2
4[
1
2
|
b

sin2|
2
+
1
2
|2b|
2
]
2[
b
2

2
|2|
2
+|2b|
2
] = 16b
2

2
L
1
since L
2
. By the Dominated Convergence Theorem, we conclude that
f

() 0 for each K, as desired.

To see that the family F = {f

} is equicontinuous on K, choose > 0 and

,

K. We have that
|f

() f

)| = |
b

sin 2 2b
b

sin 2

2b

|

b

(sin 2 sin 2

) 2b(

)

sin2 2

+ 2b

2 2

+ 2b

= 4b

<
provided

<

4b
.
Since f

are equicontinuous on K and converge pointwise on K, we have

that f

converge uniformly on K and hence (L2) holds.

P. J. McKenna & K. S. Moore 191
Returning now to the proof of the theorem and invoking the lemma above,
we have that
RHS [
0
+

)].
Assume now that
0
<
1
2

. Since 0, there exists

> 0 such that if

<

, then (

) <
1
2
and hence
RHS <

.
But this contradicts (13). Therefore

is bounded below by

> 0. Note also

that because of the factor of on the right hand side of the above inequalities,
we can take 0 <
1

for (0, 1], and hence we can choose (0,

1
).
4 The Bifurcation Curve of Periodic Solutions
As promised in the introduction, we now begin a more systematic numerical
study of the structure of the solution set of periodic solutions of the torsional
equation in the range of parameter values where the large amplitude periodic
solutions were observed at Tacoma Narrows. Instead of randomly varying the
initial conditions and hoping that multiple periodic solutions show up as long-
term behavior of the solution, we will study the structure of the solutions as we
continuously vary the amplitude of the forcing term.
Recall that the equation for the torsional motion of a horizontal cross section
of the center span of a suspension bridge is given by (2). Using the physical
constants from the engineers reports of the Tacoma Narrows failure and the
forcing term described in section 1 yields the ordinary dierential equation

= 2.4 cos sin .01

+ sin t. (14)
In [8], the author prescribed the initial position (0) and velocity

(0) of the
cross section and employed the Runge-Kutta method to solve the initial value
problem over large time. He demonstrated numerically that small or large am-
plitude periodic motion may result, depending only on the initial conditions.
Moreover, the amplitude and frequency of the large amplitude solutions matched
the behavior observed at Tacoma Narrows on the day of its collapse, [1].
As in [8], we compute periodic solutions to (14). Moreover, we describe a
numerical continuation algorithm and we use it to plot the amplitude of periodic
solutions versus the amplitude of the external forcing term. We demonstrate
that for small , three periodic solutions to (14) exist and that whether large
or small amplitude motion results depends on the initial position and velocity
of the cross section. Moreover, we demonstrate that bifurcation from single to
multiple periodic solutions occurs for small .
4.1 The Algorithm
We wish to generate the bifurcation curve for periodic solutions to (14) as the
amplitude of the external forcing term varies; i.e., we wish to plot the am-
plitude A

of the periodic solution versus . Dene T = 2/. To compute T

192 Multiple periodic solutions to a suspension bridge O.D.E.
periodic solutions to (14), we rewrite it as a rst order system as follows. Let
U =
_
u
v
_
=
_

_
. (15)
Then solutions of (14) correspond to solutions U of the rst order system
u

= v (16)
v

= 2.4 cos u sinu .01v + sin t

We employ a shooting algorithm to nd periodic solutions to the above
system. In the shooting algorithm, we search for initial conditions = [
1
,
2
]
T
so that the solution to the initial value problem
u

= v
v

= 2.4 cos u sinu .01v + sin t (17)

u(0) =
1
, v(0) =
2
is T-periodic, i.e., we search for initial conditions so that the solution U to
(17) satises
U(T) = U(0) = .
Dene F : R
2
R
2
by
F() = U(T). (18)
Then searching for initial conditions which yield a T-periodic solution to (17)
is equivalent to searching for zeros of F; we employ Newtons method to search
for these zeros. Specically, we take a good guess at an initial condition

0
which yield a T-periodic solution to (17). We then solve the initial value
problem (17) for t [0, T] and test whether F(
0
) = 0. If not, we update
0
via Newtons method:

1
=
0
DF(
0
)
1
F(
0
)
where
DF =
_
F1
1
F1
2
F2
1
F2
2
_
(19)
is the Jacobian matrix of F.
To compute this matrix, observe that by our denition of F in (18), we have
DF =
_
F1
1
F1
2
F2
1
F2
2
_
=
_
1
u
1
(T)
u
2
(T)

v
1
(T) 1
v
2
(T)
_
. (20)
To compute
u
i
,
v
i
, i = 1, 2, we recall that the solution to the initial value
problem is continuously dierentiable with respect to initial conditions and pa-
rameters, [5], and hence we can dierentiate (17) with respect to
1
. This yields
P. J. McKenna & K. S. Moore 193
the rst order system in
u
1
,
v
1
_
u
1
v
1
_

=
_
v
1
2.4 cos(2u)
u
1
.01
v
1
_
;
_
u
1
v
1
_
(0) =
_
1
0
_
(21)
Hence [
u
1
,
v
1
]
T
solves the initial value problem
_
w
z
_

=
_
z
2.4 cos(2u)w .01z
_
;
_
w
z
_
(0) =
_
1
0
_
(22)
where u is the solution to the initial value problem (17).
Similarly, dierentiating (17) with respect to
2
, we see that [
u
2
,
v
2
]
T
solves the initial value problem
_
w
z
_

=
_
z
2.4 cos(2u)w .01z
_
;
_
w
z
_
(0) =
_
0
1
_
. (23)
Therefore, to compute the entries of the Jacobian matrix (20), we must solve
the initial value problems (17), (22), and (23).
The above algorithm (Shooting Algorithm with Newton Update) suggests a
method by which we can plot the amplitude A

of periodic solutions to (14)

versus the amplitude of the external forcing term. Specically, x =

, use
the algorithm described above to compute the initial conditions which yield a
T periodic solution to (17), record the amplitude A

of the periodic solution,

increment , and repeat.
Unfortunately, this algorithm fails at bifurcation points because, under nat-
ural parameterization, the Jacobian matrix (20) is singular at such points. How-
ever, we can remedy this diculty via pseudoarclength parameterization. We
describe the parameterization briey below and refer the reader to [4], [7] for
details.
Let (
0
,
0
) be a zero of F and set (
0
,
0
) = ((s
0
), (s
0
)). We will introduce
the pseudoarclength normalization N given by
N(, , s) =
(s) (s
0
)
2
s s
0
+ (1 )
|(s) (s
0
)|
2
s s
0
(s s
0
) (24)
where (0, 1) and s is a chord-length parameter, [4]. We use an algorithm
similar to the Shooting Algorithm with Newton Update described above to
search for zeros of the map F given by
F(, , s) =
_
F(, )
N(, , s)
_
. (25)
The Jacobian matrix
DF =
_

_
F1
1
F1
2
F1

F2
1
F2
2
F2

N
1
N
2
N

_ (26)
194 Multiple periodic solutions to a suspension bridge O.D.E.
is nonsingular even if the matrix DF is singular, [7]. Finally, we observe that
the entries in the third row of DF can be computed directly from the denition
(24) of N and that the computation of
Fi

is analogous to the computation of

Fi
j
, i, j = 1, 2.
4.2 The Results
In this section we apply the continuation algorithm described in section 4.1 to
the system (17) and examine the bifurcation properties of periodic solutions.
We observe that for [1.0, 1.4], the path of periodic solutions is S-shaped,
thus for xed in some interval (, ), three periodic solutions to (17) exist.
Moreover, we see that bifurcation from single to multiple periodic solutions
occurs at a small value of = . Finally, we observe that as increases,
decreases. These results are described in Experiments 1, 2, and 3.
Consider the linearization

+ .01

+ 2.4 = sin t
of (14) and note that for the undamped equation, resonant solutions occur at

1.55. In our experiments we nd that if is smaller than, but close to,

,
we cannot compute large amplitude periodic solutions; the algorithm does not
converge to a periodic solution (see Experiment 4). If >

, the amplitude
of periodic solutions increases with , but bifurcation from single to multiple
periodic solutions does not occur.
Experiment 1 = 1.0; See Figure 3
In this experiment we see that the path of periodic solutions is S-shaped and
that bifurcation from single to multiple periodic solutions occurs at 0.0126.
If < , (17) has a unique periodic solution of small amplitude, but if
(, .623), multiple periodic solutions exist. Whether the cross-section oscillates
with small or large amplitude depends only on the initial conditions. This is
consistent with the results in [8]. Moreover, we observe that the amplitude of
the large oscillations is close to one radian, as was observed at Tacoma Narrows
on the day of its collapse, [1].
Experiment 2 = 1.2; See Figure 4
Again we see that the path of periodic solutions is S-shaped and that bifurcation
from single to multiple periodic solutions occurs at 0.0117.
Experiment 3 = 1.4; See Figure 5
Again we see that the path of periodic solutions is S-shaped and that bifurcation
from single to multiple periodic solutions occurs at 0.0088.
Experiment 4 = 1.5; See Figure 6
From the curve in Figure 6, we see that multiple solutions exist for [.0197, .0213].
P. J. McKenna & K. S. Moore 195
0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8
0
0.2
0.4
0.6
0.8
1
1.2
1.4
lambda
a
m
p
l
i
t
u
d
e

o
f

p
e
r
i
o
d
i
c

s
o
l
u
t
i
o
n
mu= 1.0
Figure 3: Experiment 1
0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8
0
0.2
0.4
0.6
0.8
1
1.2
1.4
lambda
a
m
p
l
i
t
u
d
e

o
f

p
e
r
i
o
d
i
c

s
o
l
u
t
i
o
n
mu= 1.2
Figure 4: Experiment 2
196 Multiple periodic solutions to a suspension bridge O.D.E.
0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8
0
0.2
0.4
0.6
0.8
1
1.2
1.4
lambda
a
m
p
l
i
t
u
d
e

o
f

p
e
r
i
o
d
i
c

s
o
l
u
t
i
o
n
mu= 1.4
Figure 5: Experiment 3
However, because = 1.5 is close to the resonant frequency

1.55, the al-

gorithm fails as the amplitude of the solution increases.
Experiment 5 = 1.6, = 1.7, = 2.0, = 2.6; See Figure 7
From top to bottom, the curves pictured correspond to = 1.6, = 1.7, = 2.0
and = 2.6. We see here that beyond the resonant frequency

, the amplitude
of periodic solutions grows with , but that the growth is slower for higher
frequencies. Moreover, for larger , the amplitude of the periodic solution grows
nearly linearly with .
5 Conclusion
In this paper, we have presented substantial progress on the understanding
of the structure of the periodic solutions for the forced torsional equation in
the parameter ranges where the large-amplitude oscillation was observed at
Tacoma Narrows. The multiple solutions exist over roughly the right interval
of amplitude and period, consistent with the historical evidence.
Nonetheless, some intriguing questions remain.
First, we have not presented any proof that the large amplitude solutions
persist if there is small damping. This is certainly supported by the numerical
evidence but remains open as a mathematical question. Obviously, there must
P. J. McKenna & K. S. Moore 197
0 0.005 0.01 0.015 0.02 0.025
0
0.05
0.1
0.15
0.2
0.25
0.3
0.35
lambda
a
m
p
l
i
t
u
d
e

o
f

p
e
r
i
o
d
i
c

s
o
l
u
t
i
o
n
mu= 1.5
Figure 6: Experiment 4
0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1 1.2 1.4 1.6 1.8 2
0
0.2
0.4
0.6
0.8
1
1.2
1.4
lambda
a
m
p
l
i
t
u
d
e

o
f

p
e
r
i
o
d
i
c

s
o
l
u
t
i
o
n
mu=1.6, mu=1.7, mu=2.0, mu=2.6
Figure 7: Experiment 2
198 Multiple periodic solutions to a suspension bridge O.D.E.
be some relationship between the small forcing term and the small damping,
since in the absence of any forcing, all motion must eventually decay.
Second, the original paper [8], contains two other areas which have not been
studied here. One is the observation of subharmonic solutions at integer multi-
ples of the frequency of forcing studied here. More sophisticated continuation
methods may be needed to see exactly where these families of solutions lie on
the big bifurcation picture.
Third, the relationship between the vertical and torsional motions has not
been addressed. Presumably, there are multiplicity theorems for the coupled
ordinary dierential equation system. But more importantly, the role of the
loosening of the cables in large vertical motion and the instantaneous transition
to torsional motion, so dramatically portrayed in [8], has not been addressed
here. More light will be shed on this question when the global bifurcation picture
of the coupled system is available. The relationship between the instability of
the vertical large-amplitude solutions and the torsional solutions should prove
to be particularly interesting. Progress in this direction has been made in [6],
[9], and [10].
Fourth, the question of the spatial dependence and nodal structure of the
solutions of a nonlinear beam equation will give more insight into the observed
large-amplitude motions captured on the famous lm of the Tacoma Narrows.
This question is studied in [11].
In short, we expect this subject to be a fruitful area of study (and insight
into history) for some time to come.
References
[1] O.H. Amann, T. von K arman, and G.B. Woodru. The Failure of the
Tacoma Narrows Bridge. Federal Works Agency, 1941.
[2] Blanchard, Devaney, and Hall. Dierential Equations. Brooks/Cole Pub-
lishing Company, Pacic Grove, 1998.
[3] A. Castro and A. C. Lazer. Critical point theory and the number of solutions
of a nonlinear Dirichlet problem. Ann. Mat. Pura Appl. (4), 120:113137,
1979.
[4] Y.S. Choi, K.C. Jen and P.J. McKenna. The structure of the solution set
for periodic oscillations in a suspension bridge model. IMA J. Appl. Math.,
47:283-306, 1991.
[5] E.A. Coddington and N. Levinson. Theory of Ordinary Dierential Equa-
tions. McGraw-Hill, New York, 1955.
[6] S.H. Doole and S.J. Hogan. Non-linear dynamics of the extended Lazer-
McKenna bridge oscillation model. Dyn. Stab. Syst., 15 (2000), no. 1
4358.
P. J. McKenna & K. S. Moore 199
[7] H. B. Keller. Lectures on Numerical Methods in Bifurcation Problems.
Springer-Verlag, Berlin, 1987.
[8] P.J. McKenna. Large torsional oscillations in suspension bridges revisited:
xing an old approximation. The American Mathematical Monthly, 106:1-
18, 1999.
[9] P.J. McKenna and K.S. Moore. The global structure of periodic solutions
of a suspension bridge mechanical model. In preparation.
In preparation.
[10] P.J. McKenna and Cilliam OTuama. Large torsional oscillations in suspen-
sion bridges revisited yet again: vertical forcing creates torsional response.
In preparation.
[11] K.S. Moore. Large amplitude torsional oscillations in a nonlinearly sus-
pended beam: a theoretical and numerical investigation. Dissertation, Uni-
versity of Connecticut, 1999.
[12] R.H. Scanlan and J.J. Tomko. Airfoil and bridge deck utter derivatives.
Proc. Am. Soc. Civ. Eng. Eng. Mech. Division, EM6, 1717-1737, 1971.
Joe McKenna
Department of Mathematics
University College
Cork, Ireland
e-mail: mckenna@math.uconn.edu
Kristen S. Moore
Department of Mathematics
University of Michigan
Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1109, USA
e-mail: ksmoore@math.lsa.umich.edu