P‐positive definite matrices and stability of nonconservative systems

Abstract

Abstract The bifurcation problem of constrained non‐conservative systems with non symmetric stiffness matrices is investigated. It leads to study the subset D p,n of ℳ︁ n (ℝ) of the so called p‐positive definite matrices (1 ≤ p ≤ n). The main result (D 1,n ⊂ D p,n ) is proved, the reciprocal result is investigated and the consequences on the stability of elastic nonconservative systems are highlighted.