This paper is an extension of the previous review, done by the same authors (Mikhlin, Y., and Avramov, K. V., 2010, “Nonlinear Normal Modes for Vibrating Mechanical Systems. Review of Theoretical Developments,” ASME Appl. Mech. Rev., 63(6), p. 060802), and it is devoted to applications of nonlinear normal modes (NNMs) theory. NNMs are typical regimes of motions in wide classes of nonlinear mechanical systems. The significance of NNMs for mechanical engineering is determined by several important properties of these motions. Forced resonances motions of nonlinear systems occur close to NNMs. Nonlinear phenomena, such as nonlinear localization and transfer of energy, can be analyzed using NNMs. The NNMs analysis is an important step to study more complicated behavior of nonlinear mechanical systems.This review focuses on applications of Kauderer–Rosenberg and Shaw–Pierre concepts of nonlinear normal modes. The Kauderer–Rosenberg NNMs are applied for analysis of large amplitude dynamics of finite-degree-of-freedom nonlinear mechanical systems. Systems with cyclic symmetry, impact systems, mechanical systems with essentially nonlinear absorbers, and systems with nonlinear vibration isolation are studied using this concept. Applications of the Kauderer–Rosenberg NNMs for discretized structures are also discussed. The Shaw–Pierre NNMs are applied to analyze dynamics of finite-degree-of-freedom mechanical systems, such as floating offshore platforms, rotors, piece-wise linear systems. Studies of the Shaw–Pierre NNMs of beams, plates, and shallow shells are reviewed, too. Applications of Shaw–Pierre and King–Vakakis continuous nonlinear modes for beam structures are considered. Target energy transfer and localization of structures motions in light of NNMs theory are treated. Application of different asymptotic methods for NNMs analysis and NNMs based model reduction are reviewed.

Two principal concepts of nonlinear normal vibrations modes (NNMs), namely the Kauderer–Rosenberg and Shaw–Pierre concepts, are analyzed. Properties of the NNMs and methods of their analysis are presented. NNMs stability and bifurcations are discussed. Combined application of the NNMs and the Rauscher method to analyze forced and parametric vibrations is discussed. Generalization of the NNMs to continuous systems dynamics is also described.

The possibility of absorption of linear elastic system forced oscillations by means of an essentially nonlinear absorber (snap-through truss), which is attached to the linear subsystem, is analyzed. The simplest mass–spring linear subsystem is chosen to study the problem of forced oscillations absorption. The combination of the nonlinear normal vibrations modes method, the Rauscher approach and the asymptotic analysis is used to study forced oscillations of the two-dof system. The absorption vibrations mode in the form of nonlinear normal vibrations mode with small oscillations amplitudes of the linear subsystem and large amplitudes of the snap-through truss is studied. It is shown that this mode is stable over the wide range of the excitation frequency.

The new method of the forced resonance vibrations construction in mechanical systems with internal resonance is represented. According to this approach, the generalized theory of non-linear normal vibration modes by Shaw and Pierre, the modified Rauscher method and the harmonic balance method are combined with a new iterative computation procedure. The proposed approach is used in analysis of the single-disk rotor system with the isotropic-elastic shaft and the non-linear supports of Duffing type. Gyroscopic effects, asymmetrical disposition of the disk on the shaft and internal resonance are also taken into account. The NNM approach allows reducing the 8-DOF problem of the rotor dynamics to the 2-DOF non-linear system for each non-linear normal mode. Both the model of massless supports and the model of supports with inertial effects are considered. It is shown that in last case all resonance regimes are separated into two different kinds. First kind corresponds to cyclic symmetric trajectories in a system's configuration space; the second kind corresponds to centrally symmetric ones. Regimes of the first kind can be evaluated by the use of the simplified mathematical model proposed in this work. Simplified model consists only of four generalized coordinates instead of the eight initial ones.

A new approach for a construction of homo and heteroclinic trajectories of some principal non-linear dynamical systems is utilized here, namely the non-linear Schrodinger equation, non-autonomous Duffing equation and the equation of a parametrically excited damped pendulum are considered. Pade’ and quasi-Pade’ approximants and a convergence condition used earlier in the theory of non-linear normal vibration modes made possible to solve a boundary-value problems formulated for the orbits and to determine initial amplitude values of the trajectories with admissible precision. The approach proposed here is more exact than the generally accepted one because it is not necessary to use here separatrix trajectories of the corresponding autonomous equations.