We examine the vibrational resonance (VR) of particles moving in a strongly nonlinear damped medium with a harmonically perturbed potential consisting of a background smooth triple-well potential superimposed by a fast oscillating periodic function and subjected to weak and high-frequency (HF) driving forces. The combined effects of the nonlinear damping inhomogeneity and roughness induced by the harmonic perturbation on the phenomenon of VR were theoretically and numerically analysed. It was found that damping inhomogeneity contributed significantly to the enhancement of resonant states, while potential roughness can be optimised by the HF signal to assist resonance enhancement. Furthermore, the traditional smooth VR shapes occurring in the absence of roughness experienced significant distortion occasioned by potential roughness manifesting as spikes that could ultimately be optimised by large amplitudes of the fast signal to energetically facilitate the potential barrier crossing process, thereby enabling VR enhancement.

In our recently published paper [Pramana – J. Phys.93: 102 (2019), https://doi.org/10.1007/s12043-019- 1865-5] one of the author’s affiliation (O O Popoola) was wrongly indicated. The correct affiliation is Depart- ment of Physics, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria.