Transition of energy to a nonlinear localized mode in a highly asymmetric system of two oscillators

Redistribution of energy in a highly asymmetric system consisting of coupled linear and highly nonlinear damped oscillators is investigated. Special attention is paid to the excitation of a nonlinear normal mode while the energy is initially stored in other modes of the system. The transition proceeds via the mechanism of subharmonic resonance which is possible because of the strong nonlinearity of the system. The conditions of the energy transition to NNM being effective are revealed and guidelines to design such a systems are formulated in detail.