The interest of the applied mechanics community in chaotic dynamics of
engineering systems has exploded in the last fifteen years, although research
activity on nonlinear dynamical problems in mechanics started well before
the end of the Eighties. It developed first within the general context of the
classical theory of nonlinear oscillations, or nonlinear vibrations, and of the
relevant engineering applications. This was an extremely fertile field in
terms of formulation of mechanical and mathematical models, of
development of powerful analytical techniques, and of understanding of a
number of basic nonlinear phenomena. At about the same time, meaningful
theoretical results highlighting new solution methods and new or complex
phenomena in the dynamics of deterministic systems were obtained within
dynamical systems theory by means of sophisticated geometrical and
computational techniques.
In recent years, careful experimental studies have been made to establish
the actual occurrence and observability of the predicted dynamic
phenomena, as it is vitally needed in all engineering fields. Complex
dynamics have been shown to characterize the behaviour of a great number
of nonlinear mechanical systems, ranging from aerospace engineering
applications to naval applications, mechanical engineering, structural
engineering, robotics and biomechanics, and other areas.