Nonconservative Systems Within Fractional Generalized Derivatives

Abstract

A fractional derivative generalizes an ordinary derivative, and therefore the derivative of the product of two functions differs from that for the classical ( integer) case ; the integration by parts for Riemann-Liouville fractional derivatives involves both the left and right fractional derivatives. Despite these restrictions, fractional calculus models are good candidates for description of nonconservative systems. In this article, nonconservative Lagrangian mechanics are investigated within the fractional generalized derivative approach. The fractional Euler-Lagrange equations based on the Riemann-Liouville fractional derivatives are briefly presented. Using generalized fractional derivatives, we give a meaning for the term which appears in fractional Euler-Lagrange equations and contains the second order fractional derivative. The fractional Lagrangians and Hamiltonians of two illustrative nonconservative mechanical systems are investigated in detail.