  We introduce a versatile class of prototype dynamical systems for the study
of complex bifurcation cascades of limit cycles, including bifurcations
breaking spontaneously a symmetry of the system, period doubling bifurcations
and transitions to chaos induced by sequences of limit cycle bifurcations. The
prototype system consist of a $2d$-dimensional dynamical system with friction
forces $f(V(\mathbf{x}))$ functionally dependent exclusively on the mechanical
potential $V(\mathbf{x})$, which is typically characterized, here, by a finite
number of local minima. We present examples for $d=1,2$ and simple polynomial
friction forces $f(V)$, where the zeros of $f(V)$ regulate the relative
importance of energy uptake and dissipation respectively, serving as
bifurcation parameters. Starting from simple Hopf- and homoclinic bifurcations,
complex sequences of limit cycle bifurcation are observed when energy uptake
gains progressively in importance.
