Abstract:The nonreciprocity of energy transfer, particularly strong nonreciprocity, achieved within a wider range of excitation parameters, can enhance the performance of nonreciprocal devices. The influences of bistable elements on the energy transfer mode and the modulation of nonreciprocity are investigated. Initially, the dynamic equation for a system incorporating linear stiffness, cubic stiffness, and bistable components is derived. The semianalytical solutions for this system are obtained using the complexificationaveraging and least square methods. The numerical solutions are obtained via the RungeKutta method. Then, the accuracy of the analysis procedure is confirmed through a comparison of semianalytical and numerical solutions. Building on this, the nonreciprocal characteristics of the system under harmonic excitation and the effects of excitation amplitude are analyzed. The results show that regardless of the presence of the bistable component, the nonlinear system undergoes a transition from the reciprocal to a nonreciprocal state and then back to the reciprocal state. However, the bistable component significantly alters the nonreciprocal characteristics. Furthermore, it is found that an appropriate negative stiffness in the bistable system can effectively decrease the excitation amplitude threshold for activating the nonreciprocal state.