On the asymptotic stability of discontinuous systems analysed via the averaging method

The averaging method is one of the most powerful methods used to analyse differential equations appearing in the study of nonlinear problems. The idea behind the averaging method is to replace the original equation by an averaged equation with simple structure and close solutions. A large number of practical problems lead to differential equations with discontinuous right-hand sides. In a rigorous theory of such systems, developed by Filippov, solutions of a differential equation with discontinuous right-hand side are regarded as being solutions to a special differential inclusion with upper semi-continuous right-hand side. The averaging method was studied for such inclusions by many authors using different and rather restrictive conditions on the regularity of the averaged inclusion. In this paper we prove natural extensions of Bogolyubov’s first theorem and the Samoilenko-Stanzhitskii theorem to differential inclusions with an upper semi-continuous right-hand side. We prove that the solution set of the original differential inclusion is contained in a neighbourhood of the solution set of the averaged one. The extension of Bogolyubov’s theorem concerns finite time intervals, while the extension of the Samoilenko-Stanzhitskii theorem deals with solutions defined on the infinite interval. The averaged inclusion is defined as a special upper limit and no additional condition on its regularity is required.     

A regularization for discontinuous differential equations with application to state-dependent delay differential equations of neutral type

We consider a regularization for a class of discontinuous differential equations arising in the study of neutral delay differential equations with state dependent delays. For such equations the possible discontinuity in the derivative of the solution at the initial point may propagate along the integration interval giving rise to so-called “breaking points”, where the solution derivative is again discontinuous. Consequently, the problem of continuing the solution in a right neighborhood of a breaking point is equivalent to a Cauchy problem for an ode with a discontinuous right-hand side (see e.g. Bellen et al., 2009 [4]). Therefore a classical solution may cease to exist.The regularization is based on the replacement of the vector-field with its time average over an interval of length ε>0. The regularized solution converges as ε→⁰⁺ to the classical Filippov solution (Filippov, 1964, 1988 [13] and [14]). Several properties of the solutions corresponding to small ε>0 are presented.     

The qualitative analysis of a class of planar Filippov systems

We use the theory of differential inclusions, Filippov transformations and some appropriate Poincaré maps to discuss the special case of two-dimensional discontinuous piecewise linear differential systems with two zones. This analysis applies to uniqueness and non-uniqueness for the initial value problem, stability of stationary points, sliding motion solutions, number of closed trajectories, existence of heteroclinic trajectories connecting two saddle points forming a heteroclinic cycle and existence of the homoclinic trajectory     

Differential equations on variable time scales

We introduce a class of differential equations on variable   time scales with a transition condition between two consecutive parts of the scale. Conditions for existence and uniqueness of solutions are obtained. Periodicity, boundedness and stability of solutions are considered. The method of investigation is by means of two successive reductions: B$B$-equivalence of the system [E. Akalín, M.U. Akhmet, The principles of B-smooth discontinuous flows, Computers and Mathematics with Applications 49 (2005) 981–995; M.U. Akhmet, Perturbations and Hopf bifurcation of the planar discontinuous dynamical system, Nonlinear Analysis 60 (2005) 163–178; M.U. Akhmet, N.A. Perestyuk, The comparison method for differential equations with impulse action, Differential Equations 26 (9) (1990) 1079–1086] on a variable time scale to a system on a time scale, a reduction to an impulsive differential equation [M.U. Akhmet, Perturbations and Hopf bifurcation of the planar discontinuous dynamical system, Nonlinear Analysis 60 (2005) 163–178; M.U. Akhmet, M. Turan, The differential equations on time scales through impulsive differential equations, Nonlinear Analysis 65 (2006) 2043–2060]. Appropriate examples are constructed to illustrate the theory.     

Sufficient conditions for the asymptotic stability of nonlinear multidelay differential equations with linear parts defined by pairwise permutable matrices

In this paper a generalization of the delayed exponential defined by Khusainov and Shuklin (2003) [1] for autonomous linear delay systems with one delay defined by permutable matrices is given for delay systems with multiple delays and pairwise permutable matrices. Using this multidelay-exponential a solution of a Cauchy initial value problem is represented. By an application of this representation and using Pinto’s integral inequality an asymptotic stability results for some classes of nonlinear multidelay differential equations are proved.     

Filippov solutions in the analysis of piecewise linear models describing gene regulatory networks

We study some properties of piecewise linear differential systems describing gene regulatory networks, where the dynamics are governed by sigmoid-type nonlinearities which are close to or coincide with the step functions. To overcome the difficulty of describing the dynamics of the system near singular stationary points (belonging to the discontinuity set of the system) we use the concept of Filippov solutions. It consists in replacing discontinuous differential equations with differential inclusions. The global existence and some other basic properties of the Filippov solutions such as continuous dependence on parameters are studied. We also study the uniqueness and non-uniqueness of the Filippov solutions in singular domains. The concept of Filippov stationary point is extensively exploited in the paper. We compare two ways of defining the singular stationary points: one is based on the Filippov theory and the other consists in replacing step functions with steep sigmoids and investigating the smooth systems thus obtained. The results are illustrated by a number of examples.     

On almost periodicity of delayed predator–prey model with mutual interference and discontinuous harvesting policies

The objective of this paper is to investigate the almost periodic dynamics for a class of delayed predator–prey model with mutual interference and Beddington–DeAngelis type functional response, in which the harvesting policies are modeled by discontinuous functions. Based on the theory of functional differential inclusions theory and set‐valued analysis, the solution in sense of Filippov of system with the discontinuous harvesting policies is given, and the local and global existence of positive the solution in sense of Filippov of the system is studied. By employing generalized differential inequalities, some useful Lemmas are obtained. After that, sufficient conditions which guarantee the permanence of the system are obtained in view of the constructed Lemmas. By constructing some suitable generalized Lyapunov functional, a series of useful criteria on existence, uniqueness, and global attractivity of the almost positive periodic solution to the system are derived in view of functional differential inclusions theory and nonsmooth analysis theory. Some suitable examples together with their numeric simulations are given to substantiate the theoretical results and to illustrate various dynamical behaviors of the system. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

First- and second-order discontinuous functional differential equations with impulses at fixed moments

We give sufficient conditions for the existence of extremal solutions to discontinuous and functional differential equations with impulses. Our main results are new even for ordinary differential equations without impulses.     

Melnikov method for discontinuous planar systems

This paper treats the occurrence of homoclinic solutions in planar systems with discontinuous right-hand side. More precisely, we deal with a T$T$-periodic perturbed system such that the unperturbed system is an autonomous possessing homoclinic orbit. By means of the so-called “non-smooth” Melnikov function there is shown the existence of a homoclinic solution for a perturbed system. The non-smooth Melnikov function is derived, and the method of how to find it in concrete problems is also introduced.     

Solution tube method for impulsive periodic differential inclusions of first order

The aim of this paper is to obtain an existence result for impulsive differential inclusions of first order with boundary conditions in Hilbert spaces under a hypothesis of integrability in the Henstock-Lebesgue sense for the multifunction on the right-hand side. The proof is based on the assumption that there exists a solution tube for the inclusion taken under consideration (this novel concept which generalizes the extensively used notions of upper and lower solution was adapted to the present setting). Finally, a compactness property is proved.     

Existence of global solutions to nonlinear fuzzy Volterra integro-differential equations

In this paper, we introduce new solutions for fuzzy differential equations as mixed solutions, and prove the existence and uniqueness of global solutions for fuzzy initial value problems involving integro-differential operators of Volterra type. One example is also given by applying mixed solution concept to fuzzy linear differential equations for obtaining their global solutions.     

Integral equations and initial value problems for nonlinear differential equations of fractional order

We discuss the solvability of integral equations associated with initial value problems for a nonlinear differential equation of fractional order. The differential operator is the Caputo fractional derivative and the inhomogeneous term depends on the fractional derivative of lower orders. We obtain the existence of at least one solution for integral equations using the Leray–Schauder Nonlinear Alternative for several types of initial value problems. In addition, using the Banach contraction principle, we establish sufficient conditions for unique solutions. Our approach in obtaining integral equations is the “reduction” of the fractional order of the integro-differential equations based on certain semigroup properties of the Caputo operator.     

Safety controls and applications to the Dubins’ car

In this paper we consider systems with cooperative controls. Such a model turns out to be efficient in those cases where one has to deal with different goals, as optimality and safety issues, at the same time. On the other hand, the drawback of this approach is the presence of discontinuities of the various controls. To deal with this problem, we give a general strategy, which is based on the concept of Krasowskii solution to discontinuous ODEs. Such a strategy is then applied to the safety driving of the Dubins car.     

Point initial value problem for linear functional differential equations in Banach spaces

Summary The problem of existence and uniqueness of solutions defined on the whole real line and satisfying given initial point data for general abstract linear functional differential equations is considered. The equation is not assumed to be of the delay type. The essence of the method presented here consists in the representation of a solution in the form analogous to the variation of constants formula known for linear ordinary differential equations. It is shown that such an approach can be effectively applied to the problem of existence and uniqueness of solutions satisfying an exponential growth estimate, provided that the deviation of the argument is sufficiently small. The proofs are based on the Banach fixed point principle. Detailed comparison and discussion of the hypotheses ensuring the existence and uniqueness of solutions are presented.     

Stability of differential equations with piecewise constant arguments of generalized type

In this paper we continue to consider differential equations with piecewise constant argument of generalized type (EPCAG) [M.U. Akhmet, Integral manifolds of differential equations with piecewise constant argument of generalized type, Nonlinear Anal. TMA 66 (2007) 367–383]. A deviating function of a new form is introduced. The linear and quasilinear systems are under discussion. The structure of the sets of solutions is specified. Necessary and sufficient conditions for stability of the zero solution are obtained. Our approach can be fruitfully applied to the investigation of stability, oscillations, controllability and many other problems of EPCAG. Some of the results were announced at The International Conference on Hybrid Systems and Applications, University of Louisiana, Lafayette, 2006.     

General existence principles for Stieltjes differential equations with applications to mathematical biology

Stieltjes differential equations, which contain equations with impulses and equations on time scales as particular cases, simply consist on replacing usual derivatives by derivatives with respect to a nondecreasing function. In this paper we prove new existence results for functional and discontinuous Stieltjes differential equations and we show that such general results have real world applications. Specifically, we show that Stieltjes differential equations are specially suitable to study populations which exhibit dormant states and/or very short (impulsive) periods of reproduction. In particular, we construct two mathematical models for the evolution of a silkworm population. Our first model can be explicitly solved, as it consists on a linear Stieltjes equation. Our second model, more realistic, is nonlinear, discontinuous and functional, and we deduce the existence of solutions by means of a result proven in this paper.     

Regular variation on measure chains

In this paper we show how the recently introduced concept of regular variation on time scales (or measure chains) is related to a Karamata type definition. We also present characterization theorems and an embedding theorem for regularly varying functions defined on suitable subsets of reals. We demonstrate that for a “reasonable” theory of regular variation on time scales, certain additional condition on a graininess is needed, which cannot be omitted. We establish a number of elementary properties of regularly varying functions. As an application, we study the asymptotic properties of solution to second order dynamic equations.     

On linear equations with general polynomial solutions

We provide necessary and sufficient conditions for which an nth-order linear differential equation has a general polynomial solution. We also give necessary conditions that can directly be ascertained from the coefficient functions of the equation.     

Controllability of impulsive neutral stochastic functional differential inclusions with infinite delay

This paper deals with the controllability of a class of impulsive neutral stochastic functional differential inclusions with infinite delay in an abstract space. Sufficient conditions for the controllability are derived with the help of the fixed point theorem for discontinuous multi-valued operators due to Dhage. An example is provided to illustrate the obtained theory.     

Limit behavior of solutions of ordinary linear differential equations

A classification of classes of equivalent linear differential equations with respect to -limit sets of their canonical representations is introduced. Some consequences of this classification with respect to the oscillatory behavior of solution spaces are presented.