Nonlinear dynamics enabled systems design and control

There is a growing interest towards design of high-performance structures and devices by seeking ways to exploit advantageously different nonlinearities at different scales rather than constraining operations to avoid nonlinear phenomena. Tools of robust nonlinear modeling and analysis are shown to be turned into design tools for achieving high levels of vibration control authority and synthesis of engineered systems and materials. A brief overview of methods and results on active resonance cancellation and passive nonlinear hysteretic vibration absorbers is illustrated. Recent results on the diffused hysteresis exhibited at the nanomicroscale in nanocomposites due to the powerful nonlinear stick-slip mechanism exhibited by carbon nanotubes dispersed in a hosting matrix are discussed. The optimization of the main microstructural parameters is shown to lead to unprecedented levels of damping capacity in next-generation nanostructured materials tailored for wide-band vibrational energy dissipation.