Decomposition and Uncoupling of Multi-degree-of-freedom Gyroscopic Conservative Systems

Abstract This paper explores the decomposition of linear, multi-degree-of-freedom, conservative gyroscopic dynamical systems into uncoupled subsystems through the use of real congruences. Two conditions, both of which are necessary and sufficient, are provided for the existence of a real linear coordinate transformation that uncouples the dynamical system into independent canonical subsystems, each subsystem having no more than two-degrees-of-freedom. New insights and conceptual simplifications of the behavior of such systems are provided when these conditions are satisfied, thereby improving our understanding of their complex dynamical behavior. Several analytical results useful in science and engineering are obtained as consequences of these twin conditions. Many of the analytical results are illustrated by several numerical examples to show their immediate applicability to naturally occurring and engineered systems.