This introduction to nonlinear systems is written for students of fluid mechanics, so connections are made throughout the text to familiar fluid flow systems. The aim is to present how nonlinear systems are qualitatively different from linear and to outline some simple procedures by which an understanding of nonlinear systems may be attempted. Considerable attention is paid to linear systems in the vicinity of fixed points, and it is discussed why this is relevant for nonlinear systems. A detailed explanation of chaos is not given, but a flavor of chaotic systems is presented. The focus is on physical understanding and not on mathematical rigor.

Issue Section:
Tutorial
Topics:
Bifurcation, Chaos, Flow (Dynamics), Limit cycles, Nonlinear systems, Stability, Dynamics (Mechanics), Phase space, Nonlinear dynamical systems, Turbulence, Reynolds number, Oscillations, Linear systems

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