Dissipativity theory for discontinuous dynamical systems: Basic input, state, and output properties, and finite-time stability of feedback interconnections

In this paper, we develop dissipativity theory for discontinuous dynamical systems. Specifically, using set-valued supply rate maps and set-valued connective supply rate maps consisting of locally Lebesgue integrable supply rates and connective supply rates, respectively, and set-valued storage maps consisting of piecewise continuous storage functions, dissipativity properties for discontinuous dynamical systems are presented. Furthermore, extended Kalman–Yakubovich–Popov set-valued conditions, in terms of the discontinuous system dynamics, characterizing dissipativity via generalized Clarke gradients and locally Lipschitz continuous storage functions are derived. Finally, these results are used to develop feedback interconnection stability results for discontinuous dynamical systems by appropriately combining the set-valued storage maps for the forward and feedback systems.     

基于向量Liapunov函数不连续系统的稳定性研究

基于局部Lipschitz连续且正则(Clarke意义下)的向量Liapunov函数,讨论不连续自治系统的稳定性(Filippov解意义下)．通过定义一类新的向量Liapunov函数的“集值导数”,给出了关于不连续系统的广义比较原理．基于Lipschitz连续且正则的向量Liapunov函数,进一步的给出不连续自治系统的Liapunov稳定性定理．     

Functional differential inclusions and dynamic behaviors for memristor-based BAM neural networks with time-varying delays

In this paper, we formulate and investigate a class of memristor-based BAM neural networks with time-varying delays. Under the framework of Filippov solutions, the viability and dissipativity of solutions for functional differential inclusions and memristive BAM neural networks can be guaranteed by the matrix measure approach and generalized Halanay inequalities. Then, a new method involving the application of set-valued version of Krasnoselskii’ fixed point theorem in a cone is successfully employed to derive the existence of the positive periodic solution. The dynamic analysis in this paper utilizes the theory of set-valued maps and functional differential equations with discontinuous right-hand sides of Filippov type. The obtained results extend and improve some previous works on conventional BAM neural networks. Finally, numerical examples are given to demonstrate the theoretical results via computer simulations.     

Uniform invariance principle of discontinuous systems with parameter variation

An extension of the invariance principle for a class of discontinuous righthand sides systems with parameter variation in the Filippov sense is proposed. This extension allows the derivative of an auxiliary function V, also called a Lyapunov-like function, along the solutions of the discontinuous system to be positive on some sets. The uniform estimates of attractors and basin of attractions with respect to parameters are also obtained. To this end, we use locally Lipschitz continuous and regular Lyapunov functions, as well as Filippov theory. The obtained results settled in the general context of differential inclusions, and through a uniform version of the LaSalle invariance principle. An illustrative example shows the potential of the theoretical results in providing information on the asymptotic behavior of discontinuous systems.     

Autonomous Integral Functionals with Discontinuous Nonconvex Integrands: Lipschitz Regularity of Minimizers,DuBois—Reymond Necessary Conditions,and Hamilton—Jacobi Equations

This paper is devoted to the autonomous Lagrange problem of the calculus of variations with a discontinuous Lagrangian. We prove that every minimizer is Lipschitz continuous if the Lagrangian is coercive and locally bounded. The main difference with respect to the previous works in the literature is that we do not assume that the Lagrangian is convex in the velocity. We also show that, under some additional assumptions, the DuBois—Reymond necessary condition still holds in the discontinuous case. Finally, we apply these results to deduce that the value function of the Bolza problem is locally Lipschitz and satisfies (in a generalized sense) a Hamilton—Jacobi equation.     

Stability in Generalized Differentiability Based on a Set Convergence Principle

In this paper, we are concerned with epiconvergent sequences of nonsmooth functions. From a general principle of upper set convergence of set-valued maps we derive stability results for various objects in generalized differentiability. In particular, we establish stability results for the Clarke generalized gradient of locally Lipschitz functions, respectively for the generalized Hessian of C ^1,1 functions.      

Existence of equilibria of set-valued maps on bounded epi-Lipschitz domains in Hilbert spaces without invariance conditions

In this paper, we provide a new result of the existence of equilibria for set-valued maps on bounded closed subsets K of Hilbert spaces. We do not impose either convexity or compactness assumptions on K but we assume that K has epi-Lipschitz sections, i.e. its intersection with suitable finite dimensional spaces is locally the epigraph of Lipschitz functions. In finite dimensional spaces, the famous Brouwer theorem asserts the existence of a fixed point for a continuous function from a compact convex set K to itself. Our result could be viewed as a kind of generalization of this classical result in the context of Hilbert spaces and when the function (or the set-valued map) does not necessarily map K into itself (K is not invariant under the map). Our approach is based firstly on degree theory for compact and for condensing set-valued maps and secondly on flows generated by trajectories of differential inclusions.     

Lipschitz continuity, Aleksandrov theorem and characterizations for H-convex functions

In the geometries of stratified groups, we show that H-convex functions locally bounded from above are locally Lipschitz continuous and that the class of v-convex functions exactly corresponds to the class of upper semicontinuous H-convex functions. As a consequence, v-convex functions are locally Lipschitz continuous in every stratified group. In the class of step 2 groups we characterize locally Lipschitz H-convex functions as measures whose distributional horizontal Hessian is positive semidefinite. In Euclidean space the same results were obtained by Dudley and Reshetnyak. We prove that a continuous H-convex function is a.e. twice differentiable whenever its second order horizontal derivatives are Radon measures.     

Stability of the Solution Set of Perturbed Nonsmooth Inequality Systems and Application

Stability properties of the solution set of generalized inequality systems with locally Lipschitz functions are obtained under a regularity condition on the generalized Jacobian and the Clarke tangent cone. From these results, we derive sufficient conditions for the optimal value function in a nonsmooth optimization problem to be continuous or locally Lipschitz at a given parameter.     

Periodic Solutions for Second Order Differential Inclusions with Nonconvex and Unbounded Multifunction

In this paper we consider a second order multivalued periodic boundary value problem with a nonconvex and unbounded orientor field (set-valued vector field). Using a directionally continuous selector, through its Filippov regularization we produce a convex-valued, bounded multifunction and with this as orientor field we introduce a new multivalued periodic problem. Using the Leray-Schauder principle, we solve the convex problem and then we show that its solutions also solve the original nonconvex problem.     

Dynamical behaviors of a class of recurrent neural networks with discontinuous neuron activations

This paper investigates the dynamics of a class of recurrent neural networks where the neural activations are modeled by discontinuous functions. Without presuming the boundedness of activation functions, the sufficient conditions to ensure the existence, uniqueness, global exponential stability and global convergence of state equilibrium point and output equilibrium point are derived, respectively. Furthermore, under certain conditions we prove that the system is convergent globally in finite time. The analysis in the paper is based on the properties of M-matrix, Lyapunov-like approach, and the theories of differential equations with discontinuous right-hand side as introduced by Filippov. The obtained results extend previous works on global stability of recurrent neural networks with not only Lipschitz continuous but also discontinuous neural activation functions.     

Existence of Solutions and Variational Principles for Generalized Vector Systems

By means of generalized KKM theory, we prove a result on the existence of solutions and we establish general variational principles, that is, vector optimization formulations of set-valued maps for vector generalized systems. A perturbation function is involved in general variational principles. We extend the theory of gap functions for vector variational inequalities to vector generalized systems and we prove that the solution sets of the related vector optimization problems of set-valued maps contain the solution sets of vector generalized systems. A further vector optimization problem is defined in such a way that its solution set coincides with the solution set of a weak vector generalized system. Research carried on within the agreement between National Sun Yat-Sen University of Kaohsiung, Taiwan and Pisa University, Pisa, Italy, 2007. L.C. Ceng research was partially supported by the National Science Foundation of China (10771141), Ph.D. Program Foundation of Ministry of Education of China (20070270004), and Science and Technology Commission of Shanghai Municipality grant (075105118). J.C. Yao research was partially supported by the National Science Center for Theoretical Sciences at Tainan.     

Endpoints of set-valued dynamical systems of asymptotic contractions of Meir–Keeler type and strict contractions in uniform spaces

In this paper, we introduce the concepts of the set-valued dynamical systems of asymptotic contractions of Meir–Keeler type and set-valued dynamical systems of strict contractions in uniform spaces and we present a method which is useful for establishing conditions guaranteeing the existence and uniqueness of endpoints of these contractions and the convergence to these endpoints of all generalized sequences of iterations of these contractions. The result, concerning the investigations of problems of the set-valued asymptotic fixed point theory, include some well-known results of Meir and Keeler, Kirk and Suzuki concerning the asymptotic fixed point theory of single-valued maps in metric spaces. The result, concerning set-valued strict contractions (in which the contractive coefficient is not constant), is different from the result of Yuan concerning the existence of endpoints of Tarafdar–Vyborny generalized contractions (in which the contractive coefficient is constant) in bounded metric spaces and provides some examples of Tarafdar–Yuan topological contractions in compact uniform spaces. Definitions and results presented here are new for set-valued dynamical systems in uniform, locally convex and metric spaces and even for single-valued maps. Examples show a fundamental difference between our results and the well-known ones.     

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.     

Quasi-asymptotic contractions,set-valued dynamic systems,uniqueness of endpoints and generalized pseudodistances in uniform spaces

For set-valued dynamic systems in uniform spaces we introduce the concept of quasi-asymptotic contractions with respect to some generalized pseudodistances, describe a method which we use to establish general conditions guaranteeing the existence and uniqueness of endpoints (stationary points) of these contractions and exhibit conditions such that for each starting point each generalized sequence of iterations (in particular, each dynamic process) converges and the limit is an endpoint. The definition, result, ideas and techniques are new for set-valued dynamic systems in uniform, locally convex and metric spaces and even for single-valued maps.     

Frobenius-type theorems for Lipschitz distributions

We generalize the classical Frobenius Theorem to distributions that are spanned by locally Lipschitz vector fields. The various versions of the involutivity conditions are extended by means of set-valued Lie derivatives—in particular, set-valued Lie brackets—and set-valued exterior derivatives. A PDEs counterpart of these Frobenius-type results is investigated as well.     

Endpoint theory for set-valued nonlinear asymptotic contractions with respect to generalized pseudodistances in uniform spaces

In uniform spaces, inspired by ideas of Banach, Tarafdar and Yuan, we introduce the concepts of generalized pseudodistances and generalized gauge maps, for set-valued dynamic systems we define various nonlinear asymptotic contractions and contractions with respect to these pseudodistances and gauges, provide conditions on the iterates of these set-valued dynamic systems and present a method which is useful for establishing conditions guaranteeing the existence and uniqueness of endpoints (stationary points) of these set-valued dynamic systems and conditions that each generalized sequence of iterations (in particular, each dynamic process) converges and the limit of a generalized sequence of iterations is an endpoint. The definitions, the results and the method are new for set-valued dynamic systems in uniform, locally convex and metric spaces and even for single-valued maps. The paper includes a number of various examples which show a fundamental difference between our results and those existing in the literature.     

The application of the nonsmooth critical point theory to the stationary electrorheological fluids

In this paper, we prove the existence of variational solutions to systems modeling electrorheological fluids in the stationary case. Our method of proof is based on the nonsmooth critical point theory for locally Lipschitz functional and the properties of the generalized Lebesgue–Sobolev space.     

Minimax theorems for set-valued maps without continuity assumptions

We introduce several classes of set-valued maps with new generalized convexity properties. We also obtain minimax theorems for set-valued maps which satisfy these convexity assumptions and which are not continuous. Our method consists of the use of a fixed point theorem for weakly naturally quasiconcave set-valued maps, defined on a simplex in a topological vector space, or of a constant selection of quasiconvex set-valued maps.