On a method for studying stability of nonlinear dynamic systems

A method for studying the stability of the equilibrium points of linearized, nonlinear dynamic systems of arbitrary order is considered. The method is based on the fact that, due to the nature of the mutual arrangement of the trajectories of the corresponding linearized system, and the boundaries of some simply-connected, bounded neighborhood of its equilibrium point, one can judge the asymptotic stability and instability of both this point and the equilibrium point of the nonlinear system. Necessary and sufficient conditions of asymptotic stability and sufficient conditions of instability of equilibrium points of linear systems are given. Together with the theorems of the first Lyapunov method, these conditions determine the sufficient conditions of asymptotic stability and instability of equilibrium points of nonlinear systems. In some cases, the proposed conditions may turn out to be preferable to the known ones.