On the stochastic parametric resonance of a rate-type viscoelastic string

Abstract

We analyze small amplitude shearing motions superimposed onto a harmonic extension of a string made of an isotropic rate-type viscoelastic material. In particular, we consider also the case in which the harmonic extension is perturbed by adding stochastic noise. We study the onset of resonance as a function of the characteristic parameters both in the absence and in the presence of noise. In the first case, we use the renormalization group (RG) method, while in the second case, we make use of a “ deterministic” approach that implies replacing the noise by high-frequency excitations. The main conclusion of our investigation is that the substitution of a classical elastic rope with a viscoelastic stress–relaxing string allows us to reproduce the parametric resonance phenomena observed by Melde. The presence of noise can change the well-known 2:1 resonance. In particular, the 2:1 resonance is reduced proportionally to the square of the amplitude ratio, frequency of the noise, and to the ratio between the characteristic viscous stress and the elastic stress.