Abstract
A parametrically excited oscillator with strong nonlinearity, including van der Pol and Duffing types, is studied for static bifurcations. The applicable range of the modified Lindstedt-Poincaré method is extended to 1/2 subharmonic resonance systems. The bifurcation equation of a strongly nonlinear oscillator, which is transformed into a small parameter system, is determined by the multiple scales method. On the basis of the singularity theory, the transition set and the bifurcation diagram in various regions of the parameter plane are analysed.