Dynamics of stick-slip

Abstract

We discuss the mathematical mechanism leading to 'stick-slip behaviour' seen in very dtfferent situations 'stick-slip' is seen in systems which are subjected to a fixed response and force developed will the sample is measured by dynamically coupling the system to a measuring device. We discuss in some detail a model for a type of plastic instability and a model for earthquakes in both the cases, we demonstrate that the mathematical mechanism operating is the Hopfbifurcation Similiar conclusions have been arrived at more recently in theoretical and experimental analysis on functional sheilding. The possibility of modelling several apparently different phenomena is outlined.