The stochastic P-bifurcation behavior of bi-stability in a generalized Van
der Pol oscillator with a fractional damping under multiplicative Gaussian
white noise excitation is investigated. Firstly, using the principle of
minimal mean square error, the nonlinear stiffness terms can be equivalent
to a linear stiffness which is a function of the system amplitude, and the
original system is simplified to an equivalent integer order Van der Pol
system. Secondly, the system amplitude?s stationary Probability Density
Function (PDF) is obtained by stochastic averaging. And then according to
the singularity theory, the critical parametric conditions for the system
amplitude?s stochastic P-bifurcation are found. Finally, the types of the
system?s stationary PDF curves of amplitude are qualitatively analyzed by
choosing the corresponding parameters in each area divided by the transition
set curves. The consistency between the analytical results and the numerical
results obtained from Monte Carlo simulation verifies the theoretical
analysis in this paper and the method used in this paper can directly guide
the design of the fractional order controller to adjust the response of the
system.