Pat-hological dynamic behavior of forced periodic chemical processes

Abstract Nonlinear chemical process systems which are periodically forced do not necessarily have unique, stable periodic responses with the same period as the input, although such behavior has been widely assumed previously. Theory for the as symptotic case of very fast forced cycling indicates that systems which possess multiple steady-states or self-oscillations under unforced conditions may exhibit unusual dynamic phenomena under forced periodic operation. Simulations of a periodically forced CSTR reveal several jumps in forced system qualitative behavior as the forcing frequency is altered. Among the pathological responses obtained for the CSTR example are multiple stable forced states, subharmonic oscillations, and almost periodic outputs.