Proper Orthogonal modes for the characterisation of nonlinear dynamic systems

Modal analysis is extensively used for the analysis and design of structures. However, a major concern for structural dynamicists is that its validity is limited to systems showing a linear behaviour. New developments have thus been proposed in order to tackle nonlinear systems among which the theory based on the nonlinear normal modes is indubitably the most appealing. In this study, a different approach is adopted and the modes extracted from the proper orthogonal decomposition are considered for the characterization of nonlinear systems.