EN FR
EN FR
TRIPOP - 2025

2025Activity​​​‌ reportProject-TeamTRIPOP

RNSR:​ 201822629Y
  • Research center Inria​‌ Centre at Université Grenoble​​ Alpes
  • In partnership with:​​​‌CNRS, Université de Grenoble​ Alpes
  • Team name: Modeling,​‌ Simulation and Control of​​ Nonsmooth Dynamical Systems
  • In​​​‌ collaboration with:Laboratoire Jean​ Kuntzmann (LJK)

Creation of​‌ the Project-Team: 2019 June​​ 01

Each year, Inria​​​‌ research teams publish an​ Activity Report presenting their​‌ work and results over​​ the reporting period. These​​​‌ reports follow a common​ structure, with some optional​‌ sections depending on the​​ specific team. They typically​​​‌ begin by outlining the​ overall objectives and research​‌ programme, including the main​​ research themes, goals, and​​​‌ methodological approaches. They also​ describe the application domains​‌ targeted by the team,​​ highlighting the scientific or​​​‌ societal contexts in which​ their work is situated.​‌

The reports then present​​ the highlights of the​​​‌ year, covering major scientific​ achievements, software developments, or​‌ teaching contributions. When relevant,​​ they include sections on​​​‌ software, platforms, and open​ data, detailing the tools​‌ developed and how they​​ are shared. A substantial​​​‌ part is dedicated to​ new results, where scientific​‌ contributions are described in​​ detail, often with subsections​​​‌ specifying participants and associated​ keywords.

Finally, the Activity​‌ Report addresses funding, contracts,​​ partnerships, and collaborations at​​​‌ various levels, from industrial​ agreements to international cooperations.​‌ It also covers dissemination​​ and teaching activities, such​​​‌ as participation in scientific​ events, outreach, and supervision.​‌ The document concludes with​​ a presentation of scientific​​​‌ production, including major publications​ and those produced during​‌ the year.

Keywords

Computer​​ Science and Digital Science​​​‌

  • A6.1.1. Continuous Modeling (PDE,​ ODE)
  • A6.1.4. Multiscale modeling​‌
  • A6.2.6. Optimization
  • A6.4.1. Deterministic​​ control
  • A6.4.3. Observability and​​​‌ Controlability
  • A6.4.4. Stability and​ Stabilization
  • A6.4.5. Control of​‌ distributed parameter systems
  • A6.4.6.​​ Optimal control
  • A6.5.1. Solid​​​‌ mechanics
  • A6.5.4. Waves

Other​ Research Topics and Application​‌ Domains

  • B3.3.1. Earth and​​ subsoil
  • B3.4.1. Natural risks​​​‌
  • B5.2.1. Road vehicles
  • B5.2.3.​ Aviation
  • B5.2.4. Aerospace
  • B5.4.​‌ Microelectronics
  • B5.6. Robotic systems​​
  • B7.1.2. Road traffic
  • B9.5.2.​​​‌ Mathematics
  • B9.5.5. Mechanics
  • B9.11.1.​ Environmental risks

1 Team​‌ members, visitors, external collaborators​​

Research Scientists

  • Vincent Acary​​​‌ [Team leader,​ INRIA, Senior Researcher​‌, HDR]
  • Franck​​ Bourrier [INRAE,​​​‌ Senior Researcher, HDR​]
  • Bernard Brogliato [​‌INRIA, Senior Researcher​​, HDR]
  • Olivier​​​‌ Goury [INRIA,​ Researcher]
  • Filippo Masi​‌ [INRIA, ISFP​​]
  • Felix Miranda Villatoro​​​‌ [INRIA, ISFP​]
  • Arnaud Tonnelier [​‌INRIA, Researcher,​​ HDR]

Faculty Member​​​‌

  • Stephane Grange [INSA​ LYON, Professor,​‌ from Sep 2025]​​

Post-Doctoral Fellows

  • Antoine Cordoba​​​‌ [INRIA, Post-Doctoral​ Fellow]
  • Guillaume Mestdagh​‌ [INRIA, from​​ May 2025]
  • Van​​​‌ Nam Vo [INRIA​, Post-Doctoral Fellow,​‌ from Sep 2025]​​

PhD Students

  • Chloé Gergely​​​‌ [UGA]
  • Louis​ Guillet [INRIA]​‌
  • Henri Leroy [UGA​​, from Nov 2025​​​‌]
  • Mattéo Oziol [​GRENOBLE INP]
  • Quang​‌ Hung Pham [GRENOBLE​​ INP, until Nov​​​‌ 2025]
  • Florian Vincent​ [INRIA]

Technical​‌ Staff

  • Samuel Heidmann [​​INRIA, Engineer]​​
  • Franck Pérignon [CNRS​​​‌, Engineer]

Interns‌ and Apprentices

  • Adrien Candela‌​‌ [GRENOBLE INP,​​ Intern, from May​​​‌ 2025 until Jun 2025‌]
  • Anton Denisenko [‌​‌INRIA, Intern,​​ from May 2025 until​​​‌ Aug 2025]
  • Rémi‌ Ferrato [INRIA,‌​‌ Intern, from Jul​​ 2025 until Aug 2025​​​‌]
  • Kseniia Ovchinnikova [‌INRIA, Intern,‌​‌ from Jun 2025 until​​ Aug 2025]

Administrative​​​‌ Assistant

  • Diane Courtiol [‌INRIA]

Visiting Scientists‌​‌

  • Paul Armand [Université​​ de Limoges, until​​​‌ Aug 2025, HDR‌]
  • Nicholas Anton Collins-Craft‌​‌ [Ecole des Ponts​​ (ParisTech)]
  • Christophe Prieur​​​‌ [CNRS]

External‌ Collaborator

  • Thierry Faug [‌​‌INRAE]

2 Overall​​ objectives

2.1 Introduction

The​​​‌ joint research team, TRIPOP,‌ between INRIA Grenoble Rhône–Alpes,‌​‌ Grenoble INP and CNRS,​​ part of the Laboratoire​​​‌ Jean Kuntzmann (LJK UMR‌ 5224) is mainly concerned‌​‌ with the modeling, the​​ mathematical analysis, the simulation​​​‌ and the control of‌ nonsmooth dynamical systems, with‌​‌ a strong application to​​ modeling natural environmental risks​​​‌ in mountains.

Nonsmooth dynamics‌ concerns the study of‌​‌ the time evolution of​​ systems that are not​​​‌ smooth in the mathematical‌ sense, i.e. systems that‌​‌ are characterized by a​​ lack of differentiability, either​​​‌ of the mappings in‌ their formulations, or of‌​‌ their solutions with respect​​ to time. In mechanics,​​​‌ the main instances of‌ nonsmooth dynamical systems are‌​‌ multibody systems with Signorini​​ unilateral contact, set-valued (Coulomb-like)​​​‌ friction and impacts. In‌ electronics, examples are found‌​‌ in switched electrical circuits​​ with ideal components (diodes,​​​‌ switches, transistors). In control,‌ nonsmooth systems arise in‌​‌ the sliding mode control​​ theory and in optimal​​​‌ control. Many examples can‌ also be found in‌​‌ cyber-physical systems (hybrid systems),​​ in transportation sciences, in​​​‌ mathematical biology or in‌ finance.

The team is‌​‌ organized along two research​​ axes:

  • 1) nonsmooth simulation​​​‌ and numerical modeling for‌ natural gravitational risks in‌​‌ mountains and
  • 2) modeling,​​ simulation and control of​​​‌ nonsmooth dynamical systems.

The‌ idea is to put‌​‌ forward a strong application​​ axis for which there​​​‌ is a strong academic‌ research dynamic in the‌​‌ Grenoble region and a​​ network of socio-economic actors​​​‌ very interested in an‌ industrial transfer of digital‌​‌ science methods on these​​ subjects. The second axis​​​‌ remains at the heart‌ of the team's activities‌​‌ and expertise.

2.2 General​​ scope and motivations

Nonsmooth​​​‌ dynamics concerns the study‌ of the time evolution‌​‌ of systems that are​​ not smooth in the​​​‌ mathematical sense, i.e.,‌ systems that are characterized‌​‌ by a lack of​​ differentiability, either of the​​​‌ mappings in their formulations,‌ or of their solutions‌​‌ with respect to time.​​ The class of nonsmooth​​​‌ dynamical systems recovers a‌ large variety of dynamical‌​‌ systems that arise in​​ many applications. The term​​​‌ “nonsmooth”, like the term‌ “nonlinear”, does not precisely‌​‌ define the scope of​​ the systems we are​​​‌ interested in but, and‌ most importantly, they are‌​‌ characterized by the mathematical​​ and numerical properties that​​​‌ they share. To give‌ more insight into nonsmooth‌​‌ dynamical systems, we give​​​‌ in the following a​ very brief introduction of​‌ their salient features. For​​ more details, we refer​​​‌ to 59, 34​277, 44​‌, 62.

As​​ we have indicated there​​​‌ are many applications to​ the methods of nonsmooth​‌ dynamics. We have chosen​​ a strong particular application​​​‌ for this technique of​ nonsmooth dynamics which is​‌ that of natural gravity​​ risk in the mountains.​​​‌ The choice of this​ application is particularly motivated​‌ by global climate change​​ which has increased the​​​‌ number of rockfall and​ landslide events very significantly​‌ in recent decades. Especially,​​ the effects of melting​​​‌ permafrost, increased rainfall and​ rapid temperature changes means​‌ that alpine regions are​​ particularly at risk 89​​​‌, 74. The​ team will conduct research​‌ on the mechanical modeling​​ and simulation of natural​​​‌ hazards in mountains (floods​ and debris flows, block​‌ falls, glacial hazards), bringing​​ new software development in​​​‌ a high performance computing​ (HPC) framework.

2.3 A​‌ flavor of nonsmooth dynamical​​ systems

As a first​​​‌ illustration, let us consider​ a linear finite-dimensional system​‌ described by its state​​ x(t)​​​‌IRn​ over a time-interval t​‌[0,​​T]:

x​​​‌ ˙ ( t )​ = A x (​‌ t ) + a​​ , A I​​​‌ R n × n​ , a I​‌ R n , 1​​

subjected to a set​​​‌ of m inequality (unilateral)​ constraints:

y ( t​‌ ) = C x​​ ( t ) +​​​‌ c 0 ,​ C I R​‌ m × n ,​​ c I R​​​‌ m . 2

If​ the constraints are physical​‌ constraints, a standard modeling​​ approach is to augment​​​‌ the dynamics in (​1) by an​‌ input vector λ(​​t)I​​​‌Rm that plays​ the role of a​‌ Lagrange multiplier vector. The​​ multiplier restricts the trajectory​​​‌ of the system in​ order to respect the​‌ constraints. Furthermore, as in​​ the continuous optimization theory,​​​‌ the multiplier must be​ signed and must vanish​‌ if the constraint is​​ not active. This is​​​‌ usually formulated as a​ complementarity condition:

0 ≤​‌ y ( t )​​ λ ( t​​​‌ ) 0 ,​ 3

which models the​‌ one-sided effect of the​​ inequality constraints. The notation​​​‌ y0 holds​ component–wise and y⊥​‌λ means yT​​λ=0.​​​‌ All together we end​ up with a Linear​‌ Complementarity System (LCS) of​​ the form,

x ˙​​​‌ ( t ) =​ A x ( t​‌ ) + a +​​ B λ ( t​​​‌ ) y ( t​ ) = C x​‌ ( t ) +​​ c 0 y​​​‌ ( t ) ⊥​ λ ( t )​‌ 0 4

where​​ BIR​​​‌n×m is​ the matrix that models​‌ the input generated by​​ the constraints. In a​​​‌ more general way, the​ constraints may also involve​‌ the Lagrange multiplier,

y​​ ( t ) =​​ C x ( t​​​‌ ) + c +‌ D λ ( t‌​‌ ) 0 ,​​ D I R​​​‌ m × m ,‌ 5

leading to a‌​‌ general definition of LCS​​ as

x ˙ (​​​‌ t ) = A‌ x ( t )‌​‌ + a + B​​ λ ( t )​​​‌ y ( t )‌ = C x (‌​‌ t ) + c​​ + D λ (​​​‌ t ) 0 ≤‌ y ( t )‌​‌ λ ( t​​ ) 0 .​​​‌ 6

Figure

Figure 1:‌ Complementarity condition 0≤‌​‌yλ≥​​0.

Complementarity condition​​​‌ 0y⊥‌λ0.‌​‌

The complementarity condition, illustrated​​ in Figure 1 is​​​‌ the archetype of a‌ nonsmooth graph that we‌​‌ extensively use in nonsmooth​​ dynamics. The mapping y​​​‌λ is a‌ multi-valued (set-valued) mapping, that‌​‌ is nonsmooth at the​​ origin. It has many​​​‌ interesting mathematical properties and‌ reformulations that come mainly‌​‌ from convex analysis and​​ variational inequality theory. Let​​​‌ us introduce the indicator‌ function of IR‌​‌+ as

Ψ I​​ R + ( x​​​‌ ) = 0 if‌ x 0 ,‌​‌ + if x​​ < 0 . 7​​​‌

This function is convex,‌ proper and can be‌​‌ sub-differentiated 68. The​​ definition of the subdifferential​​​‌ of a convex function‌ f:IR‌​‌mIR​​ is defined as:

∂​​​‌ f ( x )‌ = x ∈‌​‌ I R m ∣​​ f ( z )​​​‌ f ( x‌ ) + ( z‌​‌ - x ) ⊤​​ x , ∀​​​‌ z . 8

A‌ basic result of convex‌​‌ analysis is

0 ≤​​ y λ ≥​​​‌ 0 - λ‌ Ψ I‌​‌ R + ( y​​ ) 9

that gives​​​‌ a first functional meaning‌ to the set-valued mapping‌​‌ yλ.​​ Another interpretation of ∂​​​‌ΨIR+‌ is based on the‌​‌ normal cone to a​​ closed and nonempty convex​​​‌ set C:

N‌ C ( x )‌​‌ = v I​​ R m | v​​​‌ ( z -‌ x ) 0‌​‌ for all z ∈​​ C . 10

It​​​‌ is easy to check‌ that ΨI‌​‌R+(x​​)=NI​​​‌R+(x‌) and it follows‌​‌ that

0 y​​ λ 0​​​‌ - λ ∈‌ N I R +‌​‌ ( y ) .​​ 11

Finally, the definition​​​‌ of the normal cone‌ yields a variational inequality:‌​‌

0 y ⊥​​ λ 0 ⟺​​​‌ λ ( y‌ - z ) ≤‌​‌ 0 , z​​ 0 . 12​​​‌

The relations (11‌) and (12‌​‌) allow one to​​ formulate the complementarity system​​​‌ with D=0‌ as a differential inclusion‌​‌ based on a normal​​ cone (see (15​​​‌)) or as a‌ differential variational inequality. By‌​‌ extending the definition to​​​‌ other types of convex​ functions, possibly nonsmooth, and​‌ using more general variational​​ inequalities, the same framework​​​‌ applies to the nonsmooth​ laws depicted in Figure​‌ 2 that includes the​​ case of piecewise smooth​​​‌ systems.

The mathematical concept​ of solutions depends strongly​‌ on the nature of​​ the matrix quadruplet (​​​‌A,B,​C,D)​‌ in (6).​​ If D is a​​​‌ positive definite matrix (or​ a P-matrix), the​‌ Linear Complementarity problem

0​​ C x +​​​‌ c + D λ​ λ 0​‌ , 13

admits a​​ unique solution λ(​​​‌x) which is​ a Lipschitz continuous mapping.​‌ It follows that the​​ Ordinary Differential Equation (ODE)​​​‌

x ˙ ( t​ ) = A x​‌ ( t ) +​​ a + B λ​​​‌ ( x ( t​ ) ) , 14​‌

is a standard ODE​​ with a Lipschitz right-hand​​​‌ side with a C​1 solution for the​‌ initial value problem. If​​ D=0,​​​‌ the system can be​ written as a differential​‌ inclusion in a normal​​ cone as

- x​​​‌ ˙ ( t )​ + A x (​‌ t ) + a​​ B N I​​​‌ R + ( C​ x ( t )​‌ ) , 15

that​​ admits a solution that​​​‌ is absolutely continuous if​ CB is a​‌ definite positive matrix and​​ the initial condition satisfies​​​‌ the constraints. The time​ derivative x˙(​‌t) and the​​ multiplier λ(t​​​‌) may have jumps​ and are generally considered​‌ as functions of bounded​​ variations. If CB​​​‌=0, the​ order of nonsmoothness increases​‌ and the Lagrange multiplier​​ may contain Dirac atoms​​​‌ and must be considered​ as a measure. Higher–order​‌ index, or higher relative​​ degree systems yield solutions​​​‌ in terms of distributions​ and derivatives of distributions​‌ 32.

A lot​​ of variants can be​​​‌ derived from the basic​ form of linear complementarity​‌ systems, by changing the​​ form of the dynamics​​​‌ including nonlinear terms or​ by changing the complementarity​‌ relation by other multivalued​​ maps. In particular the​​​‌ nonnegative orthant may be​ replaced by any convex​‌ closed cone K⊂​​IRm leading​​​‌ to complementarity over cones​

K y​‌ λ K​​ , 16

where K​​​‌ its dual cone​ given by

K ☆​‌ = x I​​ R m x​​​‌ y 0​ for all y ∈​‌ K . 17

In​​ Figure 2, we​​​‌ illustrate some other basic​ maps that can be​‌ used for defining the​​ relation between λ and​​​‌ y. The saturation​ map, depicted in Figure​‌ 2(a) is a​​ single valued continuous function​​​‌ which is an archetype​ of a piece-wise smooth​‌ map. In Figure 2​​(b), the relay multi-function​​​‌ is illustrated. If the​ upper and the lower​‌ limits of λ are​​ respectively equal to 1​​​‌ and -1,​ we obtain the multivalued​‌ sign function defined as​​

Sgn ( y )​​ = 1 , y​​​‌ > 0 [ -‌ 1 , 1 ]‌​‌ , y = 0​​ - 1 , y​​​‌ < 0 . 18‌

Using again convex analysis,‌​‌ the multivalued sign function​​ may be formulated as​​​‌ an inclusion into a‌ normal cone as

λ‌​‌ Sgn ( y​​ ) y ∈​​​‌ N [ - 1‌ , 1 ] (‌​‌ λ ) . 19​​

More generally, any system​​​‌ of the type,

x‌ ˙ ( t )‌​‌ = A x (​​ t ) + a​​​‌ + B λ (‌ t ) y (‌​‌ t ) = C​​ x ( t )​​​‌ + a - λ‌ ( t ) ∈‌​‌ Sgn ( y (​​ t ) ) ,​​​‌ 20

can reformulated in‌ terms of the following‌​‌ set-valued system

x ˙​​ ( t ) =​​​‌ A x ( t‌ ) + a +‌​‌ B λ ( t​​ ) y ( t​​​‌ ) = C x‌ ( t ) +‌​‌ c - y (​​ t ) N​​​‌ [ - 1 ,‌ 1 ] m (‌​‌ λ ( t )​​ ) . 21

The​​​‌ system (21)‌ appears in a lot‌​‌ of applications; among them,​​ we can cite the​​​‌ sliding mode control, electrical‌ circuits with relay and‌​‌ Zener diodes 26,​​ or mechanical systems with​​​‌ friction 34.

[Saturation]‌

Figure
[Relay]
Figure
[Relay with dead‌​‌ zone]
Figure
Figure 2:​​ Examples of multivalued piecewise​​​‌ linear models

Examples of‌ multivalued piecewise linear models‌​‌

Though this class of​​ systems seems to be​​​‌ rather specific, it includes‌ as well more general‌​‌ dynamical systems such as​​ piecewise smooth systems and​​​‌ discontinuous ordinary differential equations.‌ Indeed, the system (‌​‌20) for scalars​​ y and λ can​​​‌ be viewed as a‌ discontinuous differential equation:

x‌​‌ ˙ ( t )​​ = A x +​​​‌ a + B if‌ C x + c‌​‌ > 0 A x​​ + a - B​​​‌ if C x +‌ c < 0 .‌​‌ 22

One of the​​ most well-known mathematical frameworks​​​‌ to deal with such‌ systems is the Filippov‌​‌ theory 59 that embeds​​ the discontinuous differential equations​​​‌ into a differential inclusion.‌ In the case of‌​‌ a single discontinuity surface​​ given in our example​​​‌ by S={‌xCx‌​‌+c=0​​}, the Filippov​​​‌ differential inclusion based on‌ the convex hull of‌​‌ the vector fields in​​ the neighborhood of S​​​‌ is equivalent to the‌ use of the multivalued‌​‌ sign function in (​​20). Conversely, as​​​‌ it has been shown‌ in 38, a‌​‌ piecewise smooth system can​​ be formulated as a​​​‌ nonsmooth system based on‌ products of multivalued sign‌​‌ functions.

2.4 Nonsmooth Dynamical​​ systems in the large​​​‌

Generally, the nonsmooth dynamical‌ systems we propose to‌​‌ study mainly concern systems​​ that possess the following​​​‌ features:

  • A nonsmooth formulation‌ of the constitutive/behavioral laws‌​‌ that define the system.​​ Examples of nonsmooth formulations​​​‌ are piecewise smooth functions,‌ multi–valued functions, inequality constraints,‌​‌ yielding various definitions of​​​‌ dynamical systems such as​ piecewise smooth systems, discontinuous​‌ ordinary differential equations, complementarity​​ systems, projected dynamical systems,​​​‌ evolution or differential variational​ inequalities and differential inclusions​‌ (into normal cones). Fundamental​​ mathematical tools come from​​​‌ convex analysis 90,​ 67, 68,​‌ complementarity theory 55,​​ and variational inequalities theory​​​‌ 58.
  • A concept​ of solutions that does​‌ not require continuously differentiable​​ functions of time. For​​​‌ instance, absolutely continuous, Lipschitz​ continuous functions or functions​‌ of local bounded variation​​ are the basis for​​​‌ solution concepts. Measures or​ distributions are also solutions​‌ of interest for differential​​ inclusions or evolution variational​​​‌ inequalities.

2.5 Nonsmooth systems​ versus hybrid systems

The​‌ nonsmooth dynamical systems we​​ are dealing with, have​​​‌ a nonempty intersection with​ hybrid systems and cyber-physical​‌ systems, as is briefly​​ discussed in Sect. 3.3.1​​​‌. Like in hybrid​ systems, nonsmooth dynamical systems​‌ define continuous-time dynamics that​​ can be identified with​​​‌ modes separated by guards,​ defined by the constraints.​‌ However, the strong mathematical​​ structure of nonsmooth dynamical​​​‌ systems allows us to​ state results on the​‌ following points:

  • Mathematical concept​​ of solutions: well-posedness (existence,​​​‌ and possibly, uniqueness properties,​ (dis)continuous dependence on initial​‌ conditions).
  • Dynamical systems theoretic​​ properties: existence of invariants​​​‌ (equilibria, limit cycles, periodic​ solutions,...) and their stability,​‌ existence of oscillations, periodic​​ and quasi-periodic solutions and​​​‌ propagation of waves.
  • Control​ theoretic properties: passivity, controllability,​‌ observability, stabilization, robustness.

These​​ latter properties, that are​​​‌ common for smooth nonlinear​ dynamical systems, distinguish the​‌ nonsmooth dynamical systems from​​ the very general definition​​​‌ of hybrid or cyber-physical​ systems 42, 66​‌. Indeed, it is​​ difficult to give a​​​‌ precise mathematical concept of​ solutions for hybrid systems​‌ since the general definition​​ of hybrid automata is​​​‌ usually too loose.

2.6​ Numerical methods for nonsmooth​‌ dynamical systems

To conclude​​ this brief exposition of​​​‌ nonsmooth dynamical systems, let​ us recall an important​‌ fact related to numerical​​ methods. Beyond their intrinsic​​​‌ mathematical interest, and the​ fact that they model​‌ real physical systems, using​​ nonsmooth dynamical systems as​​​‌ a model is interesting,​ because there exists a​‌ large set of robust​​ and efficient numerical techniques​​​‌ to simulate them. Without​ entering into the finer​‌ details, let us give​​ two examples of these​​​‌ techniques:

  • Numerical time integration​ methods: convergence, efficiency (order​‌ of consistency, stability, symplectic​​ properties). For the nonsmooth​​​‌ dynamical systems described above,​ there exist event-capturing time-stepping​‌ schemes with strong mathematical​​ results. These schemes have​​​‌ the ability to numerically​ integrate the initial value​‌ problem without performing an​​ event location, but by​​​‌ capturing the event within​ a time step. We​‌ call an event, or​​ a transition, every change​​​‌ into the index set​ of the active constraints​‌ in the complementarity formulation​​ or in the normal​​​‌ cone inclusion. Hence these​ schemes are able to​‌ simulate systems with a​​ huge number of transitions​​​‌ or even with finite​ accumulation of events (Zeno​‌ behavior). Furthermore, the schemes​​ do not suffer from​​​‌ the weaknesses of the​ standard schemes based on​‌ a regularization (smoothing) of​​ the multi-valued mapping resulting​​ in stiff ordinary differential​​​‌ equations. For the time-integration‌ of the initial value‌​‌ problem (IVP), or Cauchy​​ problem, a lot of​​​‌ improvements of the standard‌ time-stepping schemes for nonsmooth‌​‌ dynamics (Moreau–Jean time-stepping scheme)​​ have been proposed in​​​‌ the last decade, in‌ terms of accuracy and‌​‌ dissipation properties 37,​​ 40, 91,​​​‌ 92, 36,‌ 52, 48,‌​‌ 94, 50.​​ A significant number of​​​‌ these schemes have been‌ developed by members of‌​‌ the BIPOP team and​​ have been implemented in​​​‌ the Siconos software.
  • Numerical‌ solution procedure for the‌​‌ time–discretized problem, mainly through​​ well-identified problems studied in​​​‌ the optimization and mathematical‌ programming community. Another very‌​‌ interesting feature is the​​ fact that the discretized​​​‌ problem that we have‌ to solve at each‌​‌ time–step is generally a​​ well-known problem in optimization.​​​‌ For instance, for LCSs,‌ we have to solve‌​‌ a linear complementarity problem​​ 55 for which there​​​‌ exist efficient solvers in‌ the literature. Compared to‌​‌ the brute force algorithm​​ with exponential complexity that​​​‌ consists of enumerating all‌ the possible modes, the‌​‌ algorithms for linear complementarity​​ problem have polynomial complexity​​​‌ when the problem is‌ monotone.

3 Research program‌​‌

3.1 Introduction

In this​​ section, we develop our​​​‌ scientific program. In the‌ framework of nonsmooth dynamical‌​‌ systems, the activities of​​ the project–team will be​​​‌ focused on the following‌ research axes:

  • Axis 1‌​‌: Nonsmooth simulation and​​ numerical modeling for natural​​​‌ gravitational risk in mountains.‌ (detailed in Sect. 3.2‌​‌).
  • Axis 2:​​ Modeling, simulation and control​​​‌ (detailed in Sect. 3.3‌).

These research axes‌​‌ will be developed with​​ a strong emphasis on​​​‌ the software development and‌ the industrial transfer.

3.2‌​‌ Axis 1: Nonsmooth simulation​​ and numerical modeling for​​​‌ natural gravitational risk in‌ mountains.

In this research‌​‌ axis, we propose, on​​ the one hand, to​​​‌ extend existing methods of‌ simulation in mechanics of‌​‌ complex flows in a​​ nonsmooth framework, which allows​​​‌ us to simplify the‌ models by decreasing the‌​‌ physical parameters, and to​​ make more robust the​​​‌ numerical simulations and thus‌ to make possible the‌​‌ construction of reduced models​​ or meta-models. On the​​​‌ other hand, the so-called‌ "data-driven modeling" methods will‌​‌ be explored for gravity​​ flows and prevention structures.​​​‌ The aim is to‌ make the most of‌​‌ laboratory and observational data​​ in order to build​​​‌ and calibrate the models,‌ to evaluate their sensitivity,‌​‌ to improve their predictive​​ character, i.e. to control​​​‌ and take into account‌ the uncertainties, thanks to‌​‌ variational, statistical and AI​​ methods.

This work will​​​‌ be conducted in close‌ collaboration with the UR‌​‌ IGE of INRAE as​​ well as other researchers​​​‌ from INRIA (AIRSEA, LEMON).‌ More generally, our collaboration‌​‌ with INRAE opens new​​ long term perspectives on​​​‌ granular flow applications such‌ as debris and mud‌​‌ flows, granular avalanches and​​ the design of structural​​​‌ protections. The numerical methods‌ that go with these‌​‌ new modeling approaches will​​ be implemented in our​​​‌ software Siconos).

This research‌ is also part of‌​‌ the more general context​​​‌ of a digital platform​ on environmental risk in​‌ the mountains, including intensive​​ and cloud computing.

3.2.1​​​‌ Rockfall trajectory modeling

Trajectory​ analysis of falling rocks​‌ during rockfall events is​​ limited by the currently​​​‌ unrefined modeling of the​ impact phase 46,​‌ 45, 76.​​ The goal of this​​​‌ axis is to improve​ reliability of simulation techniques.​‌

  • Rock fracturing: When a​​ rock falls from a​​​‌ steep cliff, it stores​ a large amount of​‌ kinetic energy that is​​ partly dissipated though the​​​‌ impact with the ground.​ If the ground is​‌ composed of rocks and​​ the kinetic energy is​​​‌ sufficiently high, the probability​ of the fracture of​‌ the rock is high​​ and yields an extra​​​‌ amount of dissipated energy​ but also an increase​‌ of the number of​​ blocks that fall. In​​​‌ this topic, we want​ to use the capability​‌ of the nonsmooth dynamical​​ framework for modeling cohesion​​​‌ and fracture 73,​ 39 to propose new​‌ cohesive zone models with​​ contact and friction.
  • Rock/forest​​​‌ interaction: To prevent damage​ and incidents to infrastructure,​‌ a smart use of​​ the forest is one​​​‌ of the ways to​ control trajectories (decrease of​‌ the run-out distance, jump​​ heights and the energy)​​​‌ of the rocks that​ fall under gravity 56​‌, 57. From​​ the modeling point of​​​‌ view and to be​ able to improve the​‌ protective function of the​​ forest, an accurate modeling​​​‌ of impacts between rocks​ and trees is required.​‌ Due to the aspect​​ ratio of the trees,​​​‌ they must be considered​ as flexible bodies that​‌ may be damaged by​​ the impact. This new​​​‌ aspect offers interesting modeling​ research perspectives, especially, building​‌ rockfall simulation method with​​ mechanical models of trees​​​‌ including damage, fracture and​ plasticity.
  • Experimental validation: The​‌ participation of INRAE with​​ F. Bourrier makes possible​​​‌ the experimental validation of​ models and simulations through​‌ comparisons with real data.​​ INRAE has extensive experience​​​‌ of lab and in-situ​ experiments for rockfall trajectory​‌ modeling 46, 45​​. It is a​​​‌ unique opportunity to strengthen​ our model and to​‌ prove that nonsmooth modeling​​ of impacts is reliable​​​‌ for such experiments and​ forecasting of natural hazards.​‌

3.2.2 Modeling and simulation​​ of gravity hazards (debris​​​‌ flows, avalanches and large-scale​ rock flows)

Different modeling​‌ approaches are used in​​ the literature depending on​​​‌ the type of hazard.​

For rockfalls and dense​‌ snow avalanches, methods that​​ explicitly model the particles​​​‌ of granular materials (notably​ Discrete Element Methods -​‌ DEM) are preferred, whereas​​ for flows (debris flows,​​​‌ avalanches and large-scale rockfalls),​ methods that assimilate the​‌ large number of individual​​ constituents to materials with​​​‌ complex rheology are more​ commonly used (notably Material​‌ Point Method - MPM,​​ Smoothed-Particle Hydrodynamics - SPH,​​​‌ Shallow Water models -​ SWM). It should be​‌ noted that these methods​​ are most often explicit​​​‌ and regularize the constraints​ of inequalities and thresholds.​‌

This research item will​​ develop the following points:​​​‌

  • Rethinking DEM, MPM, SPH​ and SWM methods in​‌ the nonsmooth framework.​​ This will allow a​​ simple and efficient modeling​​​‌ of threshold and inequality‌ phenomena (one-sided contact, impact‌​‌ with Coulomb friction, threshold​​ behavior laws such as​​​‌ plasticity, damage or fracture,‌ Bingham-type fluids) in order‌​‌ to develop new, implicit​​ and robust numerical methods,​​​‌ where the most important‌ physical features of frictional‌​‌ cohesive materials are well-modeled​​ neglecting the second order​​​‌ phenomena. In a context‌ of data utilization and‌​‌ prediction, these methods seem​​ particularly well suited as​​​‌ our first experiments on‌ block trajectography and rock‌​‌ flows have already shown.​​
  • Couple these methods to​​​‌ integrate the "multi-scale (micro/meso/macro)"‌ character of these problems‌​‌ or, more simply, to​​ spatially couple at the​​​‌ same scale several physical‌ phenomena better taken into‌​‌ account by different methods,​​ for example a debris​​​‌ flow containing a material‌ with complex rheology (MPM‌​‌ or SPH) and large​​ size particles (DEM)
  • Use​​​‌ “data-driven mechanics” approaches when‌ behavioral models are not‌​‌ reliable and faithful to​​ the observed physical phenomena.​​​‌ These techniques can also‌ be used to model‌​‌ “sub-mesh” phenomena, which are​​ not or only slightly​​​‌ taken into account in‌ large-scale phenomenological models.

3.2.3‌​‌ Data-driven modelling for prediction​​ and mitigation of gravity​​​‌ hazards

The objective is‌ to develop simplified models‌​‌ that can be used​​ extensively for the development​​​‌ of calibration and uncertainty‌ quantification methods that allow‌​‌ for the joint use​​ of data from various​​​‌ sources to evaluate and‌ improve the predictive capacity‌​‌ of gravity hazard models.​​

The following points will​​​‌ be developed:

  • Statistical models‌ integrating various types of‌​‌ data and the hazard​​ models developed in the​​​‌ previous section. The identification‌ of the parameters of‌​‌ these hazard models, in​​ particular using Bayesian approaches,​​​‌ will also allow the‌ calibration and quantification of‌​‌ the uncertainties associated with​​ the hazard models.
  • Model​​​‌ reduction approaches (POD, PGD,...)‌ or construction of substitution‌​‌ models (Sparse Polynomial Chaos,​​ Gaussian Processes,...) to build​​​‌ simplified models usable in‌ this context.
  • Application of‌​‌ different data assimilation techniques​​ (particle filters or variational​​​‌ methods) on the models‌ described in the first‌​‌ axis and the reduced​​ order models.

3.3 Axis​​​‌ 2: Modeling, simulation and‌ control of non-smooth dynamical‌​‌ systems.

This axis is​​ dedicated to the modeling​​​‌ and the mathematical analysis‌ of nonsmooth dynamical systems.‌​‌ It consists of two​​ main directions: 1) Modeling,​​​‌ analysis and numerical methods‌ and 2) Automatic control.‌​‌

3.3.1 Modeling, analysis and​​ numerical methods

Multibody vibro-impact​​​‌ systems
  • Multiple impacts with‌ or without friction (short-term):‌​‌ there are many different​​ approaches to model collisions,​​​‌ especially simultaneous impacts (so-called‌ multiple impacts) 86.‌​‌ One of our objectives​​ is on one hand​​​‌ to determine the range‌ of application of the‌​‌ models (for instance, when​​ can one use “simplified”​​​‌ rigid contact models relying‌ on kinematic, kinetic or‌​‌ energetic coefficients of restitution?)​​ on typical benchmark examples​​​‌ (chains of aligned beads,‌ rocking block systems). On‌​‌ the other hand, we​​ will try to take​​​‌ advantage of the new‌ results on nonlinear wave‌​‌ phenomena, to better understand​​ multiple impacts in 2D​​​‌ and 3D granular systems.‌ The study of multiple‌​‌ impacts with (unilateral) nonlinear​​​‌ visco-elastic models (Simon–Hunt–Crossley, Kuwabara–Kono),​ or visco-elasto-plastic models (assemblies​‌ of springs, dashpots and​​ dry friction elements), is​​​‌ also a topic of​ interest, since these models​‌ are widely used.
  • Artificial​​ or manufactured or ordered​​​‌ granular crystals, meta-materials (short-term):​ Granular metamaterials (or more​‌ general nonlinear mechanical metamaterials)​​ offer many perspectives for​​​‌ the passive control of​ waves originating from impacts​‌ or vibrations. The analysis​​ of waves in such​​​‌ systems is delicate due​ to spatial discreteness, nonlinearity​‌ and non-smoothness of contact​​ laws 88, 72​​​‌, 71, 78​. We will use​‌ a variety of approaches,​​ both theoretical (e.g. bifurcation​​​‌ theory, modulation equations) and​ numerical, in order to​‌ describe nonlinear waves in​​ such systems, with special​​​‌ emphasis on energy localization​ phenomena (excitation of solitary​‌ waves, fronts, breathers).
  • Systems​​ with clearances, modeling of​​​‌ friction (long-term): joint clearances​ in kinematic chains deserve​‌ specific analysis, especially concerning​​ friction modeling 41.​​​‌ Indeed contacts in joints​ are often conformal, which​‌ involve large contact surfaces​​ between bodies. Lubrication models​​​‌ should also be investigated.​
  • Painlevé paradoxes (long-term): the​‌ goal is to extend​​ the results in 61​​​‌, which deal with​ single-contact systems, to multi-contact​‌ systems. One central difficulty​​ here is the understanding​​​‌ and the analysis of​ singularities that may occur​‌ in sliding regimes of​​ motion.

As a continuation​​​‌ of the work in​ the BIPOP team, our​‌ software Siconos will be​​ our favored software platform​​​‌ for the integration of​ these new modeling results.​‌

Systemic risk
  • The high​​ consumption of natural resources​​​‌ by our society puts​ in question its long-term​‌ sustainability. The decrease of​​ natural resources results in​​​‌ a deterioration of human​ welfare with a risk​‌ of society instability. Recently,​​ a simple nature-society interrelations​​​‌ model, called the HANDY​ model (Human And Nature​‌ DYnamics), has been proposed​​ by Montesharrei et al​​​‌ (2014) to address this​ concern with a special​‌ emphasis on the role​​ of the stratification of​​​‌ the society. The Handy​ model is a four​‌ dimensional nonlinear dynamical system​​ that describes the evolution​​​‌ of population, resources and​ accumulated wealth. We analyse​‌ the dynamics of this​​ model and we explore​​​‌ the influence of two​ parameters: the nature depletion​‌ rate and the inequality​​ factor. We characterize the​​​‌ asymptotic states of the​ system through a bifurcation​‌ analysis and we derive​​ several quantitative results on​​​‌ the trajectories. We show​ that some collapses are​‌ irreversible and, depending on​​ the wealth production factor,​​​‌ a bistability regime between​ a sustainable equilibrium and​‌ cycles of collapse-and-regeneration can​​ be obtained. We discuss​​​‌ possible policies to avoid​ dramatic scenarios.
Cyber-physical systems​‌ (hybrid systems)

Participants: V.​​ Acary, B. Brogliato, C.​​​‌ Prieur, A. Tonnelier

Nonsmooth​ systems have a non-empty​‌ intersection with hybrid systems​​ and cyber–physical systems. However,​​​‌ nonsmooth systems enjoy strong​ mathematical properties (concept of​‌ solutions, existence and uniqueness)​​ and efficient numerical tools.​​​‌ This is often the​ result of the fact​‌ that nonsmooth dynamical systems​​ are models of physical​​​‌ systems, and so can​ take advantage of their​‌ intrinsic properties (conservation or​​ dissipation of energy, passivity,​​ stability). A standard example​​​‌ is a circuit with‌ n ideal diodes. From‌​‌ the hybrid point of​​ view, this circuit is​​​‌ a piecewise smooth dynamical‌ system with 2n‌​‌ modes, that can be​​ quite cumbersome to enumerate​​​‌ in order to determinate‌ the current mode. As‌​‌ a nonsmooth system, this​​ circuit can be formulated​​​‌ as a complementarity system‌ for which there exist‌​‌ efficient time-stepping schemes and​​ polynomial time algorithms for​​​‌ the computation of the‌ current mode. The key‌​‌ idea of this research​​ action is to benefit​​​‌ from this observation to‌ improve hybrid system modeling‌​‌ tools.

  • Structural analysis of​​ multimode DAE : When​​​‌ a hybrid system is‌ described by a Differential‌​‌ Algebraic Equation (DAE) with​​ different differential indices in​​​‌ each continuous mode, the‌ structural analysis has to‌​‌ be completely rethought. In​​ particular, the re-initialization rule,​​​‌ when a switching occurs‌ from one mode to‌​‌ another, has to be​​ consistently designed. We propose​​​‌ in this action to‌ use our knowledge in‌​‌ complementarity and (distribution) differential​​ inclusions 32 to design​​​‌ consistent re-initialization rules for‌ systems with nonuniform relative‌​‌ degree vector (r​​1,r2​​​‌,...,r‌m) and r‌​‌irj​​,ij​​​‌.
  • Cyber–physical in hybrid‌ systems modeling languages :‌​‌ Nowadays, some hybrid modeling​​ languages and tools are​​​‌ widely used to describe‌ and to simulate hybrid‌​‌ systems (modelica,​​ simulink, and see​​​‌ 51 for references therein).‌ Nevertheless, the compilers and‌​‌ the simulation engines behind​​ these languages and tools​​​‌ suffer from several serious‌ weaknesses (failure, nonsensical output‌​‌ or extreme sensitivity to​​ simulation parameters), especially when​​​‌ some components, that are‌ standard in nonsmooth dynamics,‌​‌ are introduced (piecewise smooth​​ characteristic, unilateral constraints and​​​‌ complementarity condition, relay characteristic,‌ saturation, dead zone, ...).‌​‌ One of the main​​ reasons is the fact​​​‌ that most of the‌ compilers reduce the hybrid‌​‌ system to a set​​ of smooth modes modeled​​​‌ by differential algebraic equations‌ and some guards and‌​‌ reinitialization rules between these​​ modes. Sliding mode and​​​‌ Zeno-type behaviour are extremely‌ difficult for hybrid systems‌​‌ and relatively simple for​​ nonsmooth systems. With B.​​​‌ Caillaud (Inria HYCOMES) and‌ M. Pouzet (Inria PARKAS),‌​‌ we propose to improve​​ this situation by implementing​​​‌ a module able to‌ identify/describe nonsmooth elements and‌​‌ to efficiently handle them​​ with siconos as the​​​‌ simulation engine. They have‌ already carried out a‌​‌ first implementation 49 in​​ Zelus, a synchronous language​​​‌ for hybrid systems Zelus‌. Removing the weaknesses‌​‌ related to the nonsmoothness​​ of solutions should improve​​​‌ hybrid systems towards robustness‌ and certification.
  • A general‌​‌ solver for piecewise smooth​​ systems This direction is​​​‌ the continuation of the‌ promising result on modeling‌​‌ and the simulation of​​ piecewise smooth systems 38​​​‌. As for general‌ hybrid automata, the notion‌​‌ or concept of solutions​​ is not rigorously defined​​​‌ from the mathematical point‌ of view. For piecewise‌​‌ smooth systems, multiplicity of​​ solutions can happen and​​​‌ sliding solutions are common.‌ The objective is to‌​‌ recast general piecewise smooth​​​‌ systems in the framework​ of differential inclusions with​‌ Aizerman–Pyatnitskii extension 38,​​ 59. This operation​​​‌ provides a precise meaning​ to the concept of​‌ solutions. Starting from this​​ point, the goal is​​​‌ to design and study​ an efficient numerical solver​‌ (time-integration scheme and optimization​​ solver) based on an​​​‌ equivalent formulation as mixed​ complementarity systems of differential​‌ variational inequalities. We are​​ currently discussing the issues​​​‌ in the mathematical analysis.​ The goal is to​‌ prove the convergence of​​ the time-stepping scheme to​​​‌ get an existence theorem.​ With this work, we​‌ should also be able​​ to discuss the general​​​‌ Lyapunov stability of stationary​ points of piecewise smooth​‌ systems.
Numerical optimization for​​ discrete nonsmooth problems
  • Second​​​‌ Order Cone Complementarity Problems​ (SOCCP) for discrete frictional​‌ systems (short-term): After some​​ extensive comparisons of existing​​​‌ solvers on a large​ collection of examples 31​‌, 28, the​​ numerical treatment of constraint​​​‌ redundancy by the proximal​ point technique and the​‌ augmented Lagrangian formulation seems​​ to be a promising​​​‌ path for designing new​ methods. From the comparison​‌ results, it appears that​​ the redundancy of constraints​​​‌ prevents the use of​ second order methods such​‌ as semi-smooth Newton methods​​ or interior point methods.​​​‌ With P. Armand (XLIM,​ U. de Limoges), we​‌ propose to adapt recent​​ advances for regularizing constraints​​​‌ for the quadratic problem​ 60 for the second-order​‌ cone complementarity problem.
  • The​​ other question is the​​​‌ improvement of the efficiency​ of the algorithms by​‌ using accelerated schemes for​​ the proximal gradient method​​​‌ that come from large-scale​ machine learning and image​‌ processing problems. Learning from​​ the experience in large-scale​​​‌ machine learning and image​ processing problems, the accelerated​‌ version of the classical​​ gradient algorithm 84 and​​​‌ the proximal point algorithm​ 43, and many​‌ of their further extensions,​​ could be of interest​​​‌ for solving discrete frictional​ contact problems. Following the​‌ visit of Y. Kanno​​ (University of Tokyo) and​​​‌ his preliminary experience on​ frictionless problems, we will​‌ extend its use to​​ frictional contact problem. When​​​‌ we face large-scale problems,​ the main available solvers​‌ is based on a​​ Gauss–Seidel strategy that is​​​‌ intrinsically sequential. Accelerated first-order​ methods could be a​‌ good alternative to benefit​​ from distributed scientific computing​​​‌ architectures.

3.3.2 Automatic Control​

This last item is​‌ dedicated to the automatic​​ control of nonsmooth dynamical​​​‌ systems, or the nonsmooth​ control of smooth systems.​‌ The first research direction​​ concerns the discrete-time sliding​​​‌ mode control and differentiation.​ The second research direction​‌ concerns multibody systems with​​ unilateral constraint, impacts and​​​‌ set-valued friction. The third​ research direction concerns a​‌ class of dynamics which​​ is an extension of​​​‌ linear complementarity systems (or,​ equivalently, of differential algebraic​‌ equations).

Discrete-time Sliding-Mode Controllers​​ (SMC), State Observers (SMSO)​​​‌ and Differentiators (SMD)
  • SMC​ with output feedback: Output​‌ feedback can take different​​ forms, like the use​​​‌ of observers/differentiators in the​ loop (specific dynamic output​‌ feedback), or the design​​ of static or dynamic​​​‌ output feedback (without state​ observation). The time-discretization of​‌ such feedback systems and​​ its analysis remains largely​​ open.
  • Unifying algorithm for​​​‌ discrete-time SMC and SMD:‌ All of sliding mode‌​‌ algorithms are built from​​ interactions of maximal monotone​​​‌ mappings. This shared property‌ of monotonicity allows us‌​‌ to set up a​​ common framework for solving​​​‌ the associated selection problem‌ via proximal algorithms. In‌​‌ the cases when the​​ associated proximal mappings are​​​‌ too convoluted, splitting techniques‌ are going to be‌​‌ developed.
Control of nonsmooth​​ discrete Lagrangian systems
  • Linear​​​‌ Complementarity Systems (LCS): the‌ PhD thesis of Aya‌​‌ Younes is dedicated to​​ the trajectory tracking control​​​‌ in LCS. In particular‌ the cases with uncertainties‌​‌ and with state jumps​​ are carefully analysed. The​​​‌ PhD thesis of Quang-Hung‌ Pham focuses on networks‌​‌ of LCS. In both​​ cases passivity is a​​​‌ central tool for the‌ analysis.
  • Optimal control: the‌​‌ optimal control of mechanical​​ systems with unilateral constraints​​​‌ and impacts, largely remains‌ an open issue. Through‌​‌ a collaboration with Moritz​​ Diehl (Freiburg University) the​​​‌ problem has been tackled‌ using a suitable dynamics‌​‌ transformation of Lagrangian complementarity​​ systems into a Filippov​​​‌ "classical" differential inclusion with‌ absolutely continuous solutions. The‌​‌ results are restricted to​​ a single unilateral frictionless​​​‌ constraint. The global objective‌ is to enlarge it‌​‌ to multiple unilateral constraints​​ (hence multiple impacts) and​​​‌ friction.
  • Cable-driven systems: these‌ systems are typically different‌​‌ from the cable-car systems,​​ and are closer in​​​‌ their mechanical structure to‌ so-called tensegrity structures. The‌​‌ objective is to actuate​​ a system via cables​​​‌ supposed in the first‌ instance to be flexible‌​‌ (slack mode) but non-extensible​​ in their longitudinal direction.​​​‌ This gives rise to‌ complementarity conditions, one big‌​‌ difference with usual complementarity​​ Lagrangian systems being that​​​‌ the control actions operate‌ directly in one of‌​‌ the complementary variables (and​​ not in the smooth​​​‌ dynamics as in cable-car‌ systems). Therefore both the‌​‌ cable models and the​​ control properties are expected​​​‌ to differ a lot‌ from what we may‌​‌ use for cableway systems​​ (for which guaranteeing a​​​‌ positive cable tension is‌ usually not an issue,‌​‌ hence avoiding slack modes,​​ but the deformation of​​​‌ the cables due to‌ the nacelles and cables‌​‌ weights, is an important​​ factor). Tethered systems are​​​‌ a close topic.
  • Robot-object‌ underactuated dynamical systems: such‌​‌ systems are made of​​ a controlled part (called​​​‌ the robot) and an‌ uncontrolled part (called the‌​‌ object). Both are linked​​ by Lagrange multipliers which​​​‌ represent the contact forces.‌ The object can be‌​‌ controlled only through the​​ multipliers, which are in​​​‌ turn a function of‌ the system's state. Examples‌​‌ are bipeds which walk,​​ run, jump, juggling, tapping,​​​‌ pushing robots, prehensile and‌ non-prehensile tasks, some cable-driven‌​‌ systems, and some circuits​​ with nonsmooth set-valued components.​​​‌ A global approach consists‌ in a backstepping-like control‌​‌ strategy. The goal is​​ to derive a unifying​​​‌ framework which can be‌ easily adapted to all‌​‌ these various systems and​​ tasks.
Switching LCS and​​​‌ DAEs
  • We have gained‌ a strong experience in‌​‌ the field of complementarity​​ systems and distribution differential​​​‌ inclusions 32, 47‌, that may be‌​‌ seen as some kind​​​‌ of switching DAEs. More​ recently we have obtained​‌ preliminary results on the​​ analysis of so-called differential-algebraic​​​‌ linear complementarity systems (DALCS)​ and descriptor-variable LCS (DVLCS),​‌ as well as on​​ switching DAEs with state-dependent​​​‌ swithing bilateral constraints. These​ systems can be seen​‌ as DAEs with added​​ complementarity constraints, or as​​​‌ LCS with added equality​ constraints, or as DAEs​‌ with nonsmooth equality constraints.​​ Their well-posedness (existence and​​​‌ uniqueness of solutions to​ the one-step nonsmooth problem​‌ of the implicit Euler​​ scheme, existence and uniqueness​​​‌ of solutions to the​ continuous-time system) is non-trivial.​‌ The case of systems​​ with state-jumps also requires​​​‌ careful analysis.
  • A closely​ related subject is that​‌ of interconnections of LCSs​​ or extensions of these​​​‌ (like differential inclusions with​ maximal monotone properties). The​‌ stability of the interconnected​​ system is a topic​​​‌ of interest, as well​ as, the resulting collective​‌ behavior.
Dynamics of complex​​ nonlinear networks, set-valued couplings​​​‌
  • The interconnections of uncertain​ dynamical systems is a​‌ topic of broad interest​​ within the control community.​​​‌ For the case of​ nonlinear agents with set-valued​‌ coupling laws, many questions​​ remain open regarding the​​​‌ resulting behavior of the​ network, as well as,​‌ their robustness properties against​​ parametric uncertainties and external​​​‌ disturbances. The PhD thesis​ of Quang-Hung Pham focuses​‌ on such issues within​​ the context of robust​​​‌ synchronization of LCSs.
  • Recently,​ novel extensions of the​‌ concept of passivity have​​ been studied for the​​​‌ analysis of systems away​ from equilibrium 80.​‌ However, their relevance in​​ the context of networks​​​‌ remains largely unexplored.
  • Two-dimensional​ networks of oscillators with​‌ set-valued generalized Coulomb friction​​ laws arise challenging questions​​​‌ regarding their dynamics (nonlinear​ oscillations, localized waves, excitability),​‌ with applications in earthquake​​ dynamics and friction control.​​​‌
  • G. James has recently​ introduced in collaboration with​‌ F. Karbou (Centre d'Etudes​​ de la Neige, Grenoble)​​​‌ a nonsmooth dynamical system​ on a network suitable​‌ for segmenting wet snow​​ areas in SAR (synthetic-aperture​​​‌ radar) satellite images. The​ network corresponds to a​‌ large ensemble of pixels​​ of a grayscale image,​​​‌ whose evolutions are coupled​ or uncoupled depending on​‌ their distance and local​​ topography given by a​​​‌ digital elevation model. This​ yields an excitable dynamical​‌ system that tends to​​ create domain walls surrounding​​​‌ snowy areas. The system​ provides very good identification​‌ results and arises nontrivial​​ questions regarding its theoretical​​​‌ analysis, optimization (parameters, complexity)​ and generalizations.

4 Application​‌ domains

Nonsmooth dynamical systems​​ arise in many application​​​‌ fields. We briefly highlight​ here some applications that​‌ have been treated in​​ the TRIPOP team, as​​​‌ a validation for the​ research axes and also​‌ in terms of transfer.​​

In mechanics, the main​​​‌ instances of nonsmooth dynamical​ systems are multibody systems​‌ with Signorini's unilateral contact,​​ set-valued (Coulomb-like) friction and​​​‌ impacts, or in continuum​ mechanics, ideal plasticity, fracture​‌ or damage. Some illustrations​​ are given in Figure​​​‌ 4(a-f). Other instances​ of nonsmooth dynamical systems​‌ can also be found​​ in electrical circuits with​​​‌ ideal components (see Figure​ 4(g)) and in​‌ control theory, mainly with​​ sliding mode control and​​ variable structure systems (see​​​‌ Figure 4(h)). More‌ generally, every time a‌​‌ piecewise, possibly set–valued, model​​ of systems is invoked,​​​‌ we end up with‌ a nonsmooth system. This‌​‌ is the case, for​​ instance, for hybrid systems​​​‌ in nonlinear control or‌ for piecewise linear modeling‌​‌ of gene regulatory networks​​ in mathematical biology (see​​​‌ Figure 4(i)). Another‌ common example of nonsmooth‌​‌ dynamics is also found​​ when the vector field​​​‌ of a dynamical system‌ is defined as a‌​‌ solution of an optimization​​ problem under constraints, or​​​‌ a variational inequality. Examples‌ of this kind are‌​‌ found in optimal control​​ theory, in dynamic Nash​​​‌ equilibrium or in the‌ theory of dynamic flows‌​‌ over networks.

[Rockfall 46​​, 45, 57​​​‌, granular and debris‌ flows]

Figure
Figure

[Frictional interface and‌​‌ solitary waves in the​​ Burridge-Knopoff model 81]​​​‌

Figure
Figure

Figure

[Circuit breakers mechanisms 41‌ and Robots (ESA ExoMars‌​‌ Rover 30)]

Figure
Figure
Figure

Application​​ fields of nonsmooth dynamics​​​‌ (mechanics)

Figure 3:‌ Application fields of nonsmooth‌​‌ dynamics (mechanics)

[Switched electrical​​ circuits (delta-sigma converter) 26​​​‌]

Figure

[Sliding mode control‌ 33, 35,‌​‌ 69, 70,​​ 79]

Figure
Figure
Figure

[Gene regulatory​​​‌ networks 38]

Figure
Figure
Figure

Figure‌ 4: Application fields‌​‌ of nonsmooth dynamics (continued)​​

Application fields of nonsmooth​​​‌ dynamics (continued)

5 Social‌ and environmental responsibility

Regarding‌​‌ our environmental footprint, we​​ have already decided to​​​‌ drastically reduce air travel‌ and limit participation in‌​‌ international conferences, where possible.​​ For instance, trips that​​​‌ can be completed in‌ less than ten hours‌​‌ by train should not​​ be made by plane.​​​‌ When international travel is‌ necessary, conference attendance should‌​‌ be combined with visits​​ to collaborators or other​​​‌ scientific events to maximize‌ the value of each‌​‌ trip. Concerning computing equipment,​​ we do not replace​​​‌ devices before five years,‌ and we aim to‌​‌ keep office machines in​​ service for seven to​​​‌ ten years.

Regarding social‌ impact, the development of‌​‌ research axis 1 on​​ natural gravitational hazards in​​​‌ relation to climate change,‌ together with our work‌​‌ on systemic risk, reflects​​ our intention to address​​​‌ major societal challenges. Industrial‌ collaborations are also evaluated‌​‌ in light of partners'​​ commitments and actions in​​​‌ social and environmental responsibility.‌

6 Latest software developments,‌​‌ platforms, open data

6.1​​ Latest software developments

6.1.1​​​‌ SICONOS

  • Name:
    Modeling, simulation‌ and control of nonsmooth‌​‌ dynamical systems
  • Keywords:
    NSDS,​​ MEMS, DCDC, SD, Collision,​​​‌ Friction, Mechanical multi-body systems‌
  • Scientific Description:

    Siconos is‌​‌ an open-source scientific software​​ primarily targeted at modeling​​​‌ and simulating nonsmooth dynamical‌ systems in C++ and‌​‌ in Python:

    - Mechanical​​ systems (rigid or solid)​​​‌ with unilateral contact and‌ Coulomb friction and impact‌​‌ (nonsmooth mechanics, contact dynamics,​​ multibody systems dynamics or​​​‌ granular materials).

    - Switched‌ Electrical Circuit such as‌​‌ electrical circuits with ideal​​ and piecewise linear components:​​​‌ power converter, rectifier, Phase-Locked‌ Loop (PLL) or Analog-to-Digital‌​‌ converter.

    - Sliding mode​​ control systems.

    - Biology​​​‌ (Gene regulatory network).

    Other‌ applications are found in‌​‌ Systems and Control (hybrid​​ systems, differential inclusions, optimal​​​‌ control with state constraints),‌ Optimization (Complementarity systems and‌​‌ Variational inequalities), Fluid Mechanics,​​​‌ and Computer Graphics.

  • Functional​ Description:
    Read more about​‌ Siconos at the [Siconos​​ homepage] http://siconos.org
  • Release Contributions:​​​‌
    see of release on​ https://github.com/siconos/siconos/releases
  • URL:
  • Publication:​‌
  • Contact:
    Vincent Acary​​
  • Participants:
    Franck Pérignon, Maurice​​​‌ Bremond, Vincent Acary

7​ New results

7.1 Numerical​‌ Modeling for natural risk​​ in mountains

7.1.1 Energy​​​‌ conservation and dissipation properties​ for elastodynamics with contact​‌ impact and friction

Participants:​​ Vincent Acary, Nicholas​​​‌ Collins-Craft.

It has​ long been known that​‌ the standard implementation of​​ impact and Coulomb friction​​​‌ leads to the creation​ of energy in cases​‌ where the sliding direction​​ changes over the impact.​​​‌ The paper 36 proposes​ a time integration scheme​‌ for nonsmooth mechanical systems​​ involving unilateral contact, impact​​​‌ and Coulomb friction, that​ respects the principles of​‌ discrete-time energy balance with​​ positive dissipation. To obtain​​​‌ energetic consistency in the​ continuous time model, we​‌ work with an impact​​ law inspired by the​​​‌ work of M. Frémond,​ which ensures that dissipation​‌ is positive, i.e. that​​ the Clausius–Duhem inequality is​​​‌ satisfied. On this basis,​ we propose in 3​‌ a time integration method​​ based on the Moreau–Jean​​​‌ scheme with a discrete​ version of the Frémond​‌ impact law, and show​​ that this method has​​​‌ the correct dissipation properties,​ i.e. no energy is​‌ created.

7.1.2 Numerical modeling​​ of fracture in solids​​​‌

Participants: Vincent Acary,​ Franck Bourrier, Nicholas​‌ Collins-Craft.

In 54​​, a new extrinsic​​​‌ cohesive model is developed​ together with a consistent​‌ time–stepping scheme to simulate​​ fracture in quasi-brittle material​​​‌ like rock or concrete.​ An extrinsic cohesive zone​‌ model with a novel​​ unload-reload behaviour is developed​​​‌ in the framework of​ non-smooth mechanics. The model​‌ is extended to include​​ the effects of dynamics​​​‌ with impact, and is​ discretised in such a​‌ way that it can​​ be written as a​​​‌ Linear Complementarity Problem (LCP).​ This LCP is proved​‌ to be well-posed, and​​ to respect the discrete​​​‌ energy balance of the​ system. Finally, the LCP​‌ system is validated numerically,​​ in both statics and​​​‌ dynamics, by simple test​ cases, and more involved​‌ finite element simulations that​​ correspond to standard test​​​‌ geometries in the literature.​ The results correspond well​‌ with those of other​​ authors, while also demonstrating​​​‌ the simulations’ ability to​ resolve with relatively large​‌ time steps while respecting​​ the energetic balance. We​​​‌ are now working on​ the development of a​‌ model taking into account​​ the tangential cohesion coupled​​​‌ with the Coulomb friction​ 53. The objective​‌ is to propose a​​ model coupled with hydro-thermal​​​‌ freezing and thawing phenomena​ in rock interfaces, which​‌ will be used to​​ simulate the stability of​​​‌ cliffs in connection with​ the thawing of permafrost.​‌ This is still on-going​​ work.

7.1.3 Variational approach​​​‌ for nonsmooth elasto-plastic dynamics​ with contact and impacts​‌

Participants: Louis Guillet,​​ Vincent Acary, Franck​​​‌ Bourrier, Olivier Goury​.

The objective of​‌ this work 27 was​​ the modelling and the​​​‌ numerical simulation of the​ response of elastoplastic structures​‌ to impacts. To this​​ end, a numerical method​​ is proposed that takes​​​‌ into account one-sided contacts‌ (Signorini condition) and impact‌​‌ phenomena together with plasticity​​ in a monolithic solver,​​​‌ while accounting for the‌ non-smooth character of the‌​‌ dynamics. The formulation of​​ the plasticity and the​​​‌ contact laws are based‌ on inclusions into normal‌​‌ cones of convex sets,​​ or equivalently, variational inequalities​​​‌ following the pioneering work‌ of Moreau (1974) and‌​‌ Halphen and Nguyen (1975),​​ who introduced the assumptions​​​‌ of normal dissipation and‌ of generalised standard materials‌​‌ (GSM) in the framework​​ of associated plasticity with​​​‌ strain hardening. The proposed‌ time-stepping method is an‌​‌ extension of the Jean​​ and Moreau (1987) scheme​​​‌ for nonsmooth dynamics. The‌ discrete energy balance shows‌​‌ that spurious numerical damping​​ can be suppressed and​​​‌ that the scheme is‌ in practice unconditionally stable.‌​‌ Furthermore, the finite-dimensional variational​​ inequality at each time-step​​​‌ is well-posed and can‌ be solved by optimization‌​‌ methods for convex quadratic​​ programs, providing an interesting​​​‌ alternative to the return‌ mapping algorithm coupled with‌​‌ a dedicated frictional contact​​ method.

A contribution 63​​​‌, 21 presents an‌ implicit solver for non-associative‌​‌ plasticity problems based on​​ the semi-smooth Newton method​​​‌ in the context of‌ the material point method.‌​‌ The method is derived​​ from the Implicit Standard​​​‌ Material and is easily‌ compatible with various space‌​‌ discretization techniques, particularly the​​ Material Point Method and​​​‌ the Finite Element Method.‌ The solver converges quadratically,‌​‌ even for large time​​ steps, although we have​​​‌ only demonstrated theoretical results‌ for restricted cases. The‌​‌ method is demonstrated through​​ a footing simulation.

7.1.4​​​‌ Application of nonsmooth models‌ of rockfall protection structures‌​‌ for the quantification of​​ energy dissipation, warning and​​​‌ survey

Participants: Vincent Acary‌, Franck Bourrier,‌​‌ Ritesh Gupta.

This​​ work is based on​​​‌ the nonsmooth model developed‌ in 64 which simulates‌​‌ the response of a​​ novel rockfall protection structure,​​​‌ made of piled-up concrete‌ blocks interconnected via metallic‌​‌ components, subjected to impact​​ of rock blocks.

This​​​‌ model was first used‌ to investigate the key‌​‌ issue of energy dissipation​​ in passive rockfall protection​​​‌ structures when exposed to‌ impact by a rock‌​‌ block 7, 65​​. Based on the​​​‌ work done in 3‌, energy dissipation due‌​‌ to friction between the​​ system bodies and to​​​‌ plastic strain at contacts‌ were quantified. The evolution‌​‌ with time of energy​​ dissipation by each dissipative​​​‌ mechanism provides insights into‌ the global structure response‌​‌ with time in terms​​ of displacement and contact​​​‌ force amplitude. The influence‌ of the model parameters‌​‌ on the contribution of​​ these two dissipative mechanisms​​​‌ is evaluated. The variability‌ in energy dissipation varying‌​‌ the impact conditions is​​ addressed. In the end,​​​‌ this study reveals the‌ benefits derived from a‌​‌ precise quantification of energy​​ dissipation in passive rockfall​​​‌ protection structures.

As the‌ viability of a rockfall‌​‌ protection structure is vital​​ for hazard mitigation 75​​​‌, the nonsmooth model‌ developed in 64 was‌​‌ also used to assess​​ the potential of inverse​​​‌ analysis applied to data‌ collected on on-site rockfall‌​‌ protection structures exposed to​​​‌ real events. Extensive simulations​ allowed to investigate the​‌ variability in wall mechanical​​ response against different impact​​​‌ conditions. The simulation results​ served as input data​‌ for developing the inverse​​ analysis method. As a​​​‌ first application, it is​ proposed to use the​‌ inverse analysis to aid​​ in remote decision-making shortly​​​‌ after an event, based​ on real-time measurements. Then,​‌ the use of inverse​​ analysis to retrieve the​​​‌ impact condition characteristics (energy,​ location) from data collected​‌ after the event is​​ addressed. The proposed approach​​​‌ appeared efficient for back-analyzing​ (i.e., output to input)​‌ data related to the​​ wall response for being​​​‌ used as a warning​ based on its displacement​‌ and damage to the​​ wall.

The report 22​​​‌ is a part of​ the project AEx-GRANIER (Action​‌ Exploratoire - GRAvitatioNal hazards​​ in mountaIns in the​​​‌ contExt of Risks prediction​ — Nonsmooth modeling and​‌ simulation with data in​​ Geomechanics). The Non-smooth contact​​​‌ dymanics (NSCD) method based​ numerical model, implemented in​‌ Siconos software package, is​​ presented for the simulation​​​‌ of gravitational natural hazards​ in the mountain environments.​‌ The fundamental idea is​​ to narrow down the​​​‌ existing gap between the​ real event data and​‌ the numerical models towards​​ hazard prevention and risk​​​‌ prediction. In this work,​ the NSCD model simulations​‌ are combined with the​​ so-called ‘data-driven modelling’ techniques​​​‌ to access the descriptive​ statistics of the phenomenon.​‌ The characteristics of the​​ rockfall process in a​​​‌ given terrain are highlighted​ by statistically presenting a​‌ correlation and quantification of​​ the uncertainty between input​​​‌ and output parameters.

7.2​ Systemic risk

Participants: Antoine​‌ Cordoba, Arnaud Tonnelier​​, Vincent Acary.​​​‌

The HANDY model, proposed​ by Motesharrei et al.​‌ (2014), describes the nonlinear​​ interactions between human society​​​‌ and natural resources. The​ system can be viewed​‌ as a predator–prey model​​ augmented with a variable​​​‌ representing accumulated wealth. In​ previous work, we analysed​‌ the model’s dynamics with​​ particular attention to bifurcations​​​‌ with respect to two​ parameters: the depletion factor​‌ and the inequality factor.​​ We have recently extended​​​‌ this study in two​ directions. First, we consider​‌ the coupling of two​​ HANDY-type models and investigate​​​‌ the impact of population​ mobility on the dynamics​‌ of the coupled system.​​ Second, we introduce a​​​‌ general class of HANDY-type​ models and identify their​‌ generic properties (Hopf bifurcations,​​ and cycles of prosperity​​​‌ and collapse).

The HANDY​ model provides a highly​‌ simplified description of human–nature​​ interactions. A more realistic,​​​‌ but more complex, framework​ is the World3 model,​‌ proposed in the context​​ of the Club of​​​‌ Rome. This model​ describes the interactions between​‌ five sectors: world population,​​ non-renewable natural resources, the​​​‌ industrial sector, the agricultural​ sector, and pollution. We​‌ have obtained analytical results​​ for the dynamics of​​​‌ the resources–capital subsystem. However,​ classical dynamical-systems approaches are​‌ not sufficient to analyse​​ the behaviour of the​​​‌ full system due to​ its complexity, and more​‌ original methods are required.​​ To this end, we​​​‌ used and further developed​ loop dominance analysis to​‌ study the dynamics of​​ the World3 model, with​​ a particular focus on​​​‌ loop eigenvalue elasticity analysis‌ (LEEA) methods. This work‌​‌ is ongoing; preliminary results​​ have been obtained but​​​‌ are not yet published.‌

7.3 Numerical solvers for‌​‌ frictional contact problems.

Participants:​​ Vincent Acary, Maurice​​​‌ Brémond, Paul Armand‌.

In  29,‌​‌ we review several formulations​​ of the discrete frictional​​​‌ contact problem that arises‌ in space and time‌​‌ discretized mechanical systems with​​ unilateral contact and three-dimensional​​​‌ Coulomb’s friction. Most of‌ these formulations are well–known‌​‌ concepts in the optimization​​ community, or more generally,​​​‌ in the mathematical programming‌ community. To cite a‌​‌ few, the discrete frictional​​ contact problem can be​​​‌ formulated as variational inequalities,‌ generalized or semi–smooth equations,‌​‌ second–order cone complementarity problems,​​ or as optimization problems​​​‌ such as quadratic programming‌ problems over second-order cones.‌​‌ Thanks to these multiple​​ formulations, various numerical methods​​​‌ emerge naturally for solving‌ the problem. We review‌​‌ the main numerical techniques​​ that are well-known in​​​‌ the literature and we‌ also propose new applications‌​‌ of methods such as​​ the fixed point and​​​‌ extra-gradient methods with self-adaptive‌ step rules for variational‌​‌ inequalities or the proximal​​ point algorithm for generalized​​​‌ equations. All these numerical‌ techniques are compared over‌​‌ a large set of​​ test examples using performance​​​‌ profiles. One of the‌ main conclusion is that‌​‌ there is no universal​​ solver. Nevertheless, we are​​​‌ able to give some‌ hints to choose a‌​‌ solver with respect to​​ the main characteristics of​​​‌ the set of tests.‌

Recently, new developments have‌​‌ been carried out on​​ applications of well-known numerical​​​‌ methods in optimization. With‌ the visit of Paul‌​‌ Armand, Université de Limoges,​​ we co-supervise a M2​​​‌ internship, Maksym Shpakovych on‌ the application of interior‌​‌ point methods for quadratic​​ problem with second-order cone​​​‌ constraints. The results are‌ encouraging  93, 87‌​‌, 85. A​​ first publication on rolling​​​‌ friction has been published‌ 25 and another publication‌​‌ 24 in Optimization Methods​​ and Software. Following the​​​‌ defense of the PhD‌ these of Hoang Minh‌​‌ Nguyen 18, a​​ new article is in​​​‌ preparation on the asymptotic‌ numerical methods for nonconvex‌​‌ interior point method.

7.4​​ Modeling of Impact Phenomena​​​‌

Participants: Bernard Brogliato.‌

Multiple impacts (i.e., impacts‌​‌ that occur simultaneously in​​ a mechanical system, not​​​‌ to be confused with‌ finite accumulations of impacts—also‌​‌ known as Zeno phenomena)​​ exhibit specific features that​​​‌ are not encountered in‌ single-impact events (for instance,‌​‌ non-uniqueness of the output​​ for a given energetic​​​‌ behaviour, or discontinuities with‌ respect to initial data).‌​‌ As such, their modelling​​ is a non-trivial task​​​‌ that requires dedicated analysis.‌ We provide a survey‌​‌ of multiple-impact models in​​ 17 (see also Chapter​​​‌ 6 of 2 for‌ further developments and additional‌​‌ information), where the various​​ modelling approaches are classified​​​‌ into three main classes‌ and their distinctive features‌​‌ are discussed in detail.​​

Figure
Figure 5: Classification​​​‌ of force–indentation curves and‌ corresponding models (dashed areas‌​‌ represent dissipated energies), 17​​.

Classification of force–indentation​​​‌ curves and corresponding models‌ (dashed areas represent dissipated‌​‌ energies).

7.5 Analysis and​​​‌ Control of Set-Valued Systems​

Participants: Bernard Brogliato,​‌ Félix Miranda-Villatoro, Aya​​ Younes, Quang Hung​​​‌ Pham, Van Nam​ Vo.

Discrete-time implicit​‌ Euler sliding-mode control

In​​ 12, it is​​​‌ shown that some discrete-time​ algorithms (such as those​‌ referred to as minimum-operator​​ algorithms), which are finite-time​​​‌ stable and written in​ explicit form, can in​‌ fact be interpreted as​​ the implicit (backward) Euler​​​‌ discretisation of appropriate set-valued​ systems. Equivalently, they can​‌ be cast as proximal-point​​ algorithms involving resolvents of​​​‌ maximal monotone operators. This​ viewpoint paves the way​‌ for a unified framework​​ for computing sliding-mode controllers​​​‌ and differentiators based on​ implicit discretisations.

The work​‌ 11 offers a fresh​​ perspective on sliding-mode techniques​​​‌ for control, observation, and​ differentiation through their discrete-time​‌ implementation via backward Euler​​ schemes. In this setting,​​​‌ maximal monotonicity of the​ backward terms plays a​‌ central role in ensuring​​ closed-loop well-posedness and enabling​​​‌ stability analysis. This approach​ also highlights strong links​‌ between sliding-mode control and​​ optimisation through proximal-point iterations.​​​‌ The manuscript further underscores​ the significance of passivity​‌ in the resulting closed-loop​​ system, an aspect that​​​‌ has received comparatively little​ attention in the sliding-mode​‌ community. As a by-product,​​ a novel robust variant​​​‌ of the proximal-point algorithm​ is introduced and used​‌ to study finite-time stability​​ for conventional (first-order) sliding-mode​​​‌ control. The analysis combines​ tools from optimisation and​‌ maximal monotone operator theory,​​ and shows how set-valued​​​‌ control maps and suitable​ selection schemes can yield​‌ control strategies that avoid​​ the common issue of​​​‌ numerical chattering.

In 10​ the discrete analysis of​‌ multi-variable supertwisting-like algorithms is​​ presented. The approach departs​​​‌ from the emulation of​ the continuous-time design, yielding​‌ improved precision and robustness.​​ In addition, an dynamic​​​‌ splitting approach for the​ computation of the selection​‌ values of the controller​​ and its convergence properties​​​‌ are studied as well​ as its performance in​‌ numerical simulations.

Well-posedness of​​ Time-Varying Linear Complementarity Systems​​​‌

Linear Complementarity Systems (LCS),​ as in (4​‌), form a well-known​​ class of nonsmooth, nonlinear​​​‌ dynamical systems. Their analysis​ becomes significantly more challenging​‌ when the system data​​ are time-dependent. In 14​​​‌, 19, we​ study several settings: the​‌ case where D(​​t) is positive​​​‌ definite, the case D​(t)=​‌0, and the​​ case where the quadruple​​​‌ A(t)​,B(t​‌),C(​​t),D​​​‌(t) is​ passive (in the sense​‌ of Willems), so that​​ D(t)​​​‌ is positive semidefinite and​ possibly nonsymmetric. Depending on​‌ the assumptions, solutions are​​ shown to be either​​​‌ absolutely continuous or right-continuous​ with locally bounded variation.​‌ The analysis builds on​​ earlier results by Camlibel​​​‌ et al. for time-varying​ differential inclusions and by​‌ Brogliato–Thibault for time-varying LCS​​ studied via first-order sweeping​​​‌ processes, extending these frameworks​ in a non-trivial manner.​‌ Applications include electrical circuits​​ with set-valued or piecewise-linear​​​‌ components, and with time-varying​ resistances, capacitances, or inductances.​‌

Multivalued Hamiltonian Systems in​​ Discrete-Time

In 6,​​ we analyze the stability​​​‌ properties of a class‌ of discrete-time Hamiltonian systems‌​‌ in which both the​​ lossless part and the​​​‌ dissipation function are allowed‌ to be multivalued. We‌​‌ study in particular the​​ backward Euler discretisation and​​​‌ show how its implicit‌ structure supports a rigorous‌​‌ stability analysis in this​​ nonsmooth setting. Examples include​​​‌ feedback control algorithms (twisting‌ and super-twisting), mechanical systems,‌​‌ and optimisation algorithms.

Passive​​ Linear Complementarity Systems interconnections​​​‌

The generic interconnection of‌ two passive Linear Complementarity‌​‌ Systems (LCS) is analyzed​​ in 5. The​​​‌ main difficulty lies in‌ the fact that the‌​‌ interconnection variables are not,​​ in general, the passivity​​​‌ input–output pairs, in contrast‌ with the classical passivity‌​‌ theorem. Several cases are​​ examined in detail (interconnections​​​‌ of passive, strictly state-passive,‌ strongly passive LCS), relying‌​‌ on a careful analysis​​ of the corresponding passivity​​​‌ linear matrix inequalities (LMIs).‌ Most importantly, state jumps‌​‌ induced by the interconnection​​ are characterised: interconnecting two​​​‌ systems may generate state‌ jumps (even when each‌​‌ subsystem admits absolutely continuous​​ solutions for any initial​​​‌ condition) or, conversely, suppress‌ jumps that would otherwise‌​‌ occur.

Tracking control in​​ frictional oscillators

In 15​​​‌ the tracking control of‌ frictional oscillators, which can‌​‌ be recast into LCS,​​ is considered. A frictional​​​‌ oscillator, as usually considered‌ in the Nonlinear Dynamics‌​‌ literature, consists of a​​ mass sliding/sticking on a​​​‌ moving belt. A blanket‌ assumption is that the‌​‌ belt's velocity can be​​ used as an input.​​​‌ Robustness with respect to‌ uncertain friction coefficients is‌​‌ carefully analyszd. The case​​ of Stribeck friction (which​​​‌ yields a set-valued hypomonotone‌ operator) is studied.

Heterogeneous‌​‌ Networks Synchronization

In 23​​ we study the robust​​​‌ synchronization of heterogeneous networks,‌ using feedback controllers built‌​‌ from complementarity conditions. This​​ yields closed-loop systems which​​​‌ are Linear Complementarity Systems.‌ The advantage is good‌​‌ robustness properties together with​​ finite-time synchronization. The discrete-time​​​‌ implementation is analyzed carefully,‌ where backward Euler algorithms‌​‌ are shown to preserve​​ the major properties of​​​‌ the continuous-time scheme.

7.6‌ Differential Algebraic Linear Complementarity‌​‌ Systems (DALCS)

Participants: Bernard​​ Brogliato.

DALCS are​​​‌ an extension of DAE‌ and of LCS, where‌​‌ both equality and complementarity​​ constraints are present. As​​​‌ such they involve both‌ algebraic and differential states‌​‌ (familiar to DAE specialists).​​ In 20 we analyse​​​‌ state jumps in DALCS.‌ It happens that algebraic‌​‌ states can undergo discontinuities​​ while differential states are​​​‌ continuous, creating a kind‌ of impulse-free state jumps.‌​‌ Lur'e operators and maximal​​ monotonicity are the main​​​‌ tools to analyse the‌ variational inequalities from which‌​‌ the jumps are characterized.​​

7.7 Additional new results​​​‌

From constitutive modelling to‌ the physics of friction‌​‌ in fault gouges

Participants:​​ Filippo Masi, Itai​​​‌ Einav (The University of‌ Sydney).

The development‌​‌ of rate- and state-dependent​​ friction laws offered important​​​‌ insights into the key‌ physical mechanisms of the‌​‌ frictional behavior of fault​​ gouges and their seismic​​​‌ cycle. However, past approaches‌ were specifically tailored to‌​‌ address the problem of​​ fault shearing, leaving questions​​​‌ about their ability to‌ comprehensively represent the gouge‌​‌ material under general loading​​​‌ conditions. The work presented​ in 8 establishes an​‌ alternative approach for developing​​ a physical friction law​​​‌ for fault gouges that​ is grounded on the​‌ rigour of the hydrodynamic​​ procedure with two-scale temperatures​​​‌ through Terracotta, a thoroughly​ robust constitutive model for​‌ clay in triaxial loading​​ conditions. By specifying the​​​‌ model for direct shearing,​ the approach yields an​‌ alternative friction law that​​ readily captures the frictional​​​‌ dynamics of fault gouges,​ including explicit dependencies on​‌ gouge layer thickness, normal​​ stress, and solid fraction.​​​‌ Validated against available laboratory​ experiments, the friction law​‌ retains the original predictive​​ capabilities of Terracotta in​​​‌ triaxial conditions and explains​ the rate-and-state, dilatational behavior​‌ of fault gouges in​​ direct shear conditions. Finally,​​​‌ when the Terracotta friction​ law is connected to​‌ a spring-dashpot representation of​​ the host rock, the​​​‌ combined model predicts an​ elastic buildup precursor to​‌ the onset of and​​ subsequent seismicity, with results​​​‌ closely reflecting experimental evidence​ and field observations.

Figure
Figure​‌ 6: Hydrodynamics of​​ fault gouges: from constitutive​​​‌ to friction law 8​. A fault gouge​‌ is modelled as a​​ shearing layer of thickness​​​‌ h under overburden stress​ σn, where​‌ the slip and normal​​ rates control the evolution​​​‌ of shear stress τ​ and the energy is​‌ stored elastically and dissipated​​ through coupled thermal micro-​​​‌ and meso-scopic mechanisms. Coupling​ this gouge model to​‌ a spring–dashpot representation of​​ the host rock enables​​​‌ simulations of earthquake dynamics​ in clay-rich faults.

Hydrodynamics​‌ of fault gouges: from​​ constitutive to friction law.​​​‌ A fault gouge is​ modelled as a shearing​‌ layer of thickness h​​ under overburden stress σ​​​‌n, where the​ slip and normal rates​‌ control the evolution of​​ shear stress τ and​​​‌ the energy is stored​ elastically and dissipated through​‌ coupled thermal micro- and​​ meso-scopic mechanisms. Coupling this​​​‌ gouge model to a​ spring–dashpot representation of the​‌ host rock enables simulations​​ of earthquake dynamics in​​​‌ clay-rich faults.

Towards Real-Time​ Simulation of Soft Robots​‌ with Contacts using a​​ Method of Hybrid Hyper-Reduction​​​‌

Participants: Olivier Goury,​ Samuel M Youssef (Istituto​‌ Italiano di Tecnologia),​​ Simon Le Berre (CEA)​​​‌, Christian Duriez (DEFROST​ Inria).

Soft robotics​‌ has emerged as an​​ important part of robotics​​​‌ in recent years. Soft​ robots have an inherent​‌ view of contacts that​​ is dramatically different from​​​‌ traditional rigid robots. Indeed,​ for rigid robots, contacts​‌ are either forbidden to​​ avoid damage to the​​​‌ robot, the environment and​ humans, or precisely controlled​‌ for locomotion or interaction​​ with an object. For​​​‌ soft robots, contacts may​ happen without damage, and​‌ when interacting with an​​ object, local deformations allows​​​‌ for smoother interactions and​ potentially better performance. These​‌ prospects make soft robots​​ attractive for tasks such​​​‌ as grasping. Fast finite​ element simulation is very​‌ useful for control and​​ design. However, simulating collision​​​‌ adds a major numerical​ cost as it requires​‌ first a collision detection​​ algorithm to detect collisions,​​​‌ and most importantly, it​ requires solving a constrained​‌ problem to avoid inter-penetrations​​ and compute contact forces.​​ When the number of​​​‌ contact points is large,‌ this computation slows down‌​‌ the simulation dramatically. In​​ the contribution 16,​​​‌ we apply a hybrid‌ hyper-reduction method to alleviate‌​‌ the FEM cost, the​​ collision detection as well​​​‌ as the contact response‌ computation. The deformations are‌​‌ computed in a low-dimensional​​ subspace computed from offline​​​‌ experiments. The mechanical matrices‌ are reduced through a‌​‌ method of hyper-reduction and​​ the collision model is​​​‌ reduced following a hybrid‌ reduction strategy. We show‌​‌ good agreement between original​​ and reduced simulation while​​​‌ speeding up dramatically the‌ computation. We first apply‌​‌ the method in simulation​​ on a soft bouncing​​​‌ ball to explain the‌ method. We then show‌​‌ an example with a​​ soft gripper. The method​​​‌ is generic and can‌ be used for control,‌​‌ design or learning algorithms.​​

Figure
Figure 7: Different​​​‌ models of a soft‌ ball 16. Top‌​‌ left and right: full​​ order model and sampled​​​‌ model. Bottom left and‌ right: full collision model‌​‌ and reduced collision model,​​ the ball is turned​​​‌ for a better view.‌

Different models of a‌​‌ soft ball. Top left​​ and right: full order​​​‌ model and sampled model.‌ Bottom left and right:‌​‌ full collision model and​​ reduced collision model, the​​​‌ ball is turned for‌ a better view.

Modeling,‌​‌ Embedded Control, and Design​​ of Soft Robots Using​​​‌ a Learned Condensed FEM‌ Model

Participants: Tanguy Navez‌​‌ (DEFROST Inria), Etienne​​ Ménager (DEFROST Inria),​​​‌ Paul Chaillou (DEFROST Inria)‌, Olivier Goury,‌​‌ Alexandre Kruszewski (DEFROST Inria)​​, Christian Duriez (DEFROST​​​‌ Inria).

The finite‌ element method (FEM) is‌​‌ a powerful modeling tool​​ for predicting soft robots'​​​‌ behavior, but its computation‌ time can limit practical‌​‌ applications. In the contribution​​ 13, a learning-based​​​‌ approach based on condensation‌ of the FEM model‌​‌ is detailed. The proposed​​ method handles several kinds​​​‌ of actuators and contacts‌ with the environment. We‌​‌ demonstrate that this compact​​ model can be learned​​​‌ as a unified model‌ across several designs and‌​‌ remains very efficient in​​ terms of modeling since​​​‌ we can deduce the‌ direct and inverse kinematics‌​‌ of the robot. The​​ learned model is presented​​​‌ as a general framework‌ for modeling, controlling, and‌​‌ designing soft manipulators. First,​​ the method’s adaptability and​​​‌ versatility are illustrated through‌ optimization-based control problems involving‌​‌ positioning and manipulation tasks​​ with mechanical contact-based coupling.​​​‌ Second, the low-memory consumption‌ and the high prediction‌​‌ speed of the learned​​ condensed model are leveraged​​​‌ for real-time embedding control‌ without relying on costly‌​‌ online FEM simulation. Finally,​​ the ability of the​​​‌ learned condensed FEM model‌ to capture soft robot‌​‌ design variations and its​​ differentiability are leveraged in​​​‌ calibration and design optimization‌ applications.

Figure
Figure 8:‌​‌ Illustration of the proposed​​ framework and its applications​​​‌ 13. The FEM‌ model of a robot‌​‌ is projected in the​​ constraint space, and the​​​‌ corresponding matrices are learned‌ using a neural network.‌​‌ The learned matrices can​​ be used in different​​​‌ applications like (a) real-time‌ embedded control, (b) inverse‌​‌ control involving predefined contact​​​‌ points, (c) control of​ multiple identical robots from​‌ a single learned model,​​ and (d) both design​​​‌ optimization and calibration applications.​

Illustration of the proposed​‌ framework and its applications.​​

Reduced-scale laboratory testing of​​​‌ structures and scaling laws​ for blasts from exploding​‌ wires

Participants: Filippo Masi​​, Ahmad Morsel (École​​​‌ Centrale Nantes), Panagiotis​ Kotronis (École Centrale Nantes)​‌, Ioannis Stefanou (École​​ Centrale Nantes).

In​​​‌ 83, 82,​ we introduce and validate​‌ a reduced-scale experimental facility​​ for laboratory testing of​​​‌ structures subjected to blast​ loading (miniBLAST) based on​‌ the electrical discharge of​​ thin metallic wires. The​​​‌ setup enables safe, systematic​ and repeatable generation of​‌ blast-type shock waves with​​ controlled intensity. The investigastions​​​‌ show that the blast​ parameters generated by exploding​‌ wires follow self-similar scaling​​ with respect to the​​​‌ Hopkinson–Cranz scaled distance, in​ close analogy with conventional​‌ high explosives. This provides​​ a physically consistent framework​​​‌ to interpret reduced-scale tests​ and to connect them​‌ to engineering practice through​​ TNT-equivalence factors. These results​​​‌ support the use of​ exploding wires as a​‌ robust and cost-effective alternative​​ for parametric blast loading​​​‌ campaigns, model validation, and​ reduced-scale structural dynamics experiments.​‌

Figure
Figure 9: Time​​ evolution of the response​​​‌ of a masonry wall​ subjected to blast loads​‌ from the discharge of​​ 5 kJ 83.​​​‌

Time evolution of the​ response of a masonry​‌ wall subjected to blast​​ loads from the discharge​​​‌ of 5 kJ.

Multi-physics​ modeling for ion homeostasis​‌ in multi-compartment plant cells​​ using an energy function​​​‌

Participants: Guillaume Mestdagh,​ Alexis de Angeli (IPSiM,​‌ Univ. Montpellier), Christophe​​ Godin (Laboratoire Reproduction et​​​‌ Développement des Plantes, Univ.​ Lyon).

Plant cells​‌ control their volume by​​ regulating the osmotic potential​​​‌ of their cytoplasm and​ vacuole. Water is attracted​‌ into the cell as​​ the result of a​​​‌ cascade of solute exchanges​ between the cell subcompartments​‌ and the cell surroundings,​​ which are governed by​​​‌ chemical, electrostatic and mechanical​ forces. Due to this​‌ multi-physics aspect and to​​ couplings between volume changes​​​‌ and chemical effects, modeling​ these exchanges remains a​‌ challenge that has only​​ been partially addressed. As​​​‌ interest for multi-compartment models​ grows in the plant​‌ cell community, this challenge​​ calls for new modeling​​​‌ strategies. In 9,​ we introduce an energy-based​‌ approach to couple chemical,​​ electrical and mechanical processes​​​‌ taking place between several​ subcompartments of a plant​‌ cell. The contributions of​​ all physical effects are​​​‌ gathered in an energy​ function, which allows us​‌ to derive the equations​​ satisfied by each variable​​​‌ in a systematic way.​ We illustrate the properties​‌ of this modular, unified​​ approach on the modeling​​​‌ of ion and water​ transport in a guard​‌ cell during stoma opening.​​ We represent the stoma​​​‌ opening process as a​ quasi-static evolution driven by​‌ hydrogen pumps in the​​ plasma and vacuolar membranes,​​​‌ and we show that​ the new formalism explains​‌ why the system varies​​ in a particular direction​​​‌ in response to perturbations.​ Additional numerical simulations allow​‌ us to investigate the​​ role of each hydrogen​​ pump in this process.​​​‌ Altogether, we show that‌ this energy-based approach highlights‌​‌ a hierarchy between the​​ forces involved in the​​​‌ system, and to dissect‌ the role of each‌​‌ physical effect in the​​ complex behavior of the​​​‌ system.

Figure
Figure 10:‌ Representation of the multi-physics‌​‌ model involving two membranes​​ and a hand-picked selection​​​‌ of transporters (image adapted‌ from Issi at openclipart.org).‌​‌

Representation of the multi-physics​​ model involving two membranes​​​‌ and a hand-picked selection‌ of transporters (image adapted‌​‌ from Issi at openclipart.org).​​

8 Bilateral contracts and​​​‌ grants with industry

Participants:‌ Vincent Acary, Bernard‌​‌ Brogliato.

8.1 Bilateral​​ grants with industry

  • Schneider​​​‌ Electric. The longest and‌ most established partnership is‌​‌ with Schneider Electric, which​​ has been ongoing since​​​‌ 2001. This collaboration initially‌ began with a post-doctoral‌​‌ position co-funded by Schneider​​ Electric and CNRS and​​​‌ has continued into the‌ present. Over the years,‌​‌ it has covered the​​ simulation and modeling of​​​‌ multibody systems involving contact,‌ friction, and impacts, with‌​‌ a direct application to​​ the virtual prototyping of​​​‌ electrical circuit breakers. Schneider‌ Electric has funded two‌​‌ PhD theses and engaged​​ in several research contracts​​​‌ with INRIA, and it‌ has also participated as‌​‌ a major partner in​​ the ANR Saladyn project.​​​‌ The collaboration evolved from‌ interactions with the R&D‌​‌ innovation department to working​​ directly with the business​​​‌ unit responsible for designing‌ circuit breakers, and it‌​‌ now includes new challenges​​ such as modeling flexible​​​‌ parts and managing multiple‌ impact laws. Additional work‌​‌ with Schneider Electric also​​ took place in the​​​‌ project ANR-10-AIRT-05 of IRT‌ NanoElec Pulse, which focused‌​‌ on modeling and controlling​​ overhead cranes.
    • 2025: master​​​‌ internship (PFE Ensimag/Schneider Electric)‌ – Rémy Roubinet, co-supervised‌​‌ by B. Brogliato with​​ E. Frangin (Schneider Electric):​​​‌ impact mechanics, Siconos simulations,‌ and vibration tests on‌​‌ Schneider Electric's shaking table.​​
  • Service Technique des remontées​​​‌ mécaniques et des transports‌ guidés (STRMTG). A long-term‌​‌ partnership with STRMTG supports​​ a research contract on​​​‌ the modelling, simulation and‌ control of cable-transport systems.‌​‌ The work focuses on​​ cable dynamics and interactions​​​‌ with supports under unilateral‌ contact and friction, with‌​‌ the objective of delivering​​ an open-source simulation tool​​​‌ to support operations and‌ certification.
    • 2025: postdoctoral researcher‌​‌ – Guillaume Mestdagh (with​​ V. Acary).
  • Safran Tech.​​​‌ In 2024, TRIPOP initiated‌ a collaboration with Safran‌​‌ Tech through the recruitment​​ of a postdoctoral researcher​​​‌ (S. Le Berre). This‌ project targets the modelling‌​‌ and simulation of flexible​​ multibody systems with impacts​​​‌ and frictional contact, extending‌ the team's industrial partnerships‌​‌ to the aerospace sector.​​
  • NGE Fondations. Since 2018,​​​‌ the team has maintained‌ regular exchanges with NGE‌​‌ Fondations, a European leader​​ in the design of​​​‌ protection solutions against gravity-driven‌ natural hazards. These exchanges‌​‌ were formalized in 2024​​ through a collaboration within​​​‌ the FEREC project Protecmo‌, in which TRIPOP‌​‌ initiated the development of​​ numerical models for temporary​​​‌ rockfall protection solutions.
  • Natural‌ risk management. The team‌​‌ works with several socio-economic​​ actors through the OCIRN​​​‌ project (and SMART-PROTECT project,‌ previously) to set up‌​‌ an industrialization of our​​​‌ simulation and calculation techniques​ in an operational context.​‌ For this, the creation​​ of a consortium around​​​‌ Platrock and Siconos is​ under study. The industrialization​‌ part (marketing, maintenance, support)​​ is ensured by the​​​‌ company HALIAS technologies.

9​ Partnerships and cooperations

9.1​‌ National initiatives

ANR SlimDisc​​

Participants: Felix Miranda-Villatoro,​​​‌ Bernard Brogliato.

SlimDisc​ (Sliding-Mode set-valued control and​‌ observation in finite and​​ infinite dimensions: Discretization) is​​​‌ a project funded by​ The French National Research​‌ Agency (ANR) for the​​ period October 2024–September 2026.​​​‌ It is a collaborative​ project between Ecole Central​‌ de Nantes, Inria Lille,​​ and Inria Grenoble, SlimDisc​​​‌. The start of​ the project is October​‌ 2024 for a duration​​ of 4 years. This​​​‌ project follows two previous​ ANR projects on the​‌ same topic, with same​​ partners (ChaSlim and​​​‌ DigitSlid). The main​ goals of SlimDisc are​‌ the analysis and the​​ experimental validation of set-valued​​​‌ sliding-mode controllers and state​ observers/differentiators, in discrete time,​‌ as well as the​​ design of a toolbox​​​‌ dedicated to the computation​ and implementation of discrete-time​‌ controllers and differentiators. This​​ will be tackled using​​​‌ mainly the Euler implicit​ and semi-implicit discretization methods.​‌ The key feature of​​ this project is the​​​‌ development of discretization methods​ for both finite- and​‌ infinite-dimensional control systems.

ANR​​ SPECULAR

Participants: Olivier Goury​​​‌.

SPECULAR (Simulation of​ Percutaneous Liver tumor Ablation​‌ in virtual Reality) is​​ a project funded by​​​‌ The French National Research​ Agency (ANR) for the​‌ period January 2022–December 2025.​​ The goal of the​​​‌ project is to develop​ an immersive simulation of​‌ needle-based procedures. It is​​ a collaborative project between​​​‌ Inria Lille, Strasbourg University,​ Inria Nancy and the​‌ company InfinyTech3D. Olivier Goury​​ is responsible of Work​​​‌ Package 2 in collaboration​ with DEFROST at Inria​‌ Lille where the focus​​ is onto speed up​​​‌ the numerical simulation using​ reduced-order modeling techniques and​‌ parallel programming. This project​​ is coordinated by Stéphane​​​‌ Cotin at Inria Nancy​ and Hadrien Courtecuisse at​‌ Strasbourg University.

PEPR Risques​​ (Ex-IRIMA)

Participants: Vincent Acary​​​‌, Franck Bourrier,​ Olivier Goury.

The​‌ IRiMa PEPR (integrated risk​​ management for more resilient​​​‌ societies in an era​ of global change) is​‌ co-piloted by BRGM, CNRS​​ and Grenoble-Alpes University. This​​​‌ exploratory PEPR, with a​ budget of €51.9 million​‌ over 8 years, brings​​ together more than 30​​​‌ partner institutions and laboratories.​ Within this PEPR, we​‌ are actively involved in​​ the "Mountain" targeted project​​​‌ (PC) with the ANR​ IRIMONT funding application entitled​‌ "Assessment and mitigation of​​ risks related to natural​​​‌ hazards in mountain territories​ in the global change​‌ context". The IRIMONT project​​ looks at all the​​​‌ physical and social dimensions​ of natural hazards in​‌ mountain areas, from the​​ characterisation of processes to​​​‌ decision-making and adaptation in​ a context of climate​‌ change and socio-environmental dynamics.​​ The project is structured​​​‌ in 3 work packges.​ Guillaume Chambon (INRAE/IGE), Marc​‌ Peruzetto (BRGM) and Vincent​​ Acary are responsible for​​​‌ WP1 - Analysis and​ understanding of mountain risks​‌ and their components. This​​ work package targets the​​ gaps in knowledge and​​​‌ the scientific barriers concerning‌ mountain risks and their‌​‌ components (hazards, vulnerability, exposure).​​ To this end, it​​​‌ includes the acquisition and‌ analysis of new data‌​‌ (instrumental, historical, etc.) and​​ the development of new​​​‌ predictive models (mechanical, stochastic,‌ decisional). This work package‌​‌ thus constitutes the "toolbox"​​ of the IRIMONT project.​​​‌ However, as in the‌ IRIMONT project as a‌​‌ whole, we are favoring​​ an approach in which​​​‌ the questions are linked‌ to the mountain terrain‌​‌ and its specific features,​​ rather than a more​​​‌ disciplinary/methodological approach, and we‌ are focusing on developments‌​‌ that can be best​​ integrated with the expectations​​​‌ of the other work‌ packages.

PEPR MAth Vives‌​‌ - Mathematics for Life,​​ Environment and Society –​​​‌ Complexflows

Participants: Vincent Acary‌, Franck Bourrier.‌​‌

PEPR Maths-Vives is a​​ national programme, funded as​​​‌ part of the France‌ 2030 plan, which is‌​‌ investing 50 MEUR over​​ ten years to promote​​​‌ dialogue between mathematics and‌ other disciplines. Its aim‌​‌ is to respond to​​ major contemporary challenges —​​​‌ life, the environment, society‌ — through modeling, simulation‌​‌ and mathematical analysis of​​ complex phenomena. The programme​​​‌ is organised around three‌ thematic areas: `Life' (biology,‌​‌ health, ecology, etc.), `Environment'​​ (climate, biodiversity, energy, etc.),​​​‌ and `Society' (mobility, urban‌ planning, social dynamics, economics,‌​‌ etc.). The ComplexFlows project​​ (part of the PEPR​​​‌ Maths-Vives programme) aims to‌ improve our understanding of‌​‌ complex natural free-surface flows​​ — such as landslides,​​​‌ mudslides, debris avalanches, rockfalls,‌ coastal erosion, etc. It‌​‌ uses multidisciplinary approaches combining​​ mathematics and physics to​​​‌ model these phenomena, which‌ involve solid particles densely‌​‌ suspended in one or​​ more fluids. The project​​​‌ focuses on four main‌ areas: macroscopic modeling based‌​‌ on interactions at different​​ scales, consideration of free​​​‌ interfaces and variable bottoms,‌ the role of elastic‌​‌ or acoustic waves in​​ flow, and modeling of​​​‌ mixtures with exchanges between‌ phases. The fundamental objective‌​‌ is to understand why​​ natural landslides can be​​​‌ extremely mobile, to remove‌ the barriers related to‌​‌ the rheology (mechanical behaviour)​​ of granular and fluid​​​‌ media, and to develop‌ theoretical or numerical tools‌​‌ that can help predict​​ the dynamics, extent or​​​‌ speed of potentially dangerous‌ events. The project is‌​‌ funded to the tune​​ of approximately 1 MEUR​​​‌ over five years and‌ coordinated by teams from‌​‌ the University of Savoie​​ Mont Blanc (mathematics) and​​​‌ the CNRS (physics)/University of‌ Montpellier. A half PhD‌​‌ thesis has been granted​​ for the team within​​​‌ this project.

MIAI Chair:‌ Artificial Intelligence and Mechanics‌​‌ (AIM)

Participants: Vincent Acary​​, Filippo Masi,​​​‌ Franck Bourrier.

The‌ chair AIM (Artificial Intelligence‌​‌ and Mechanics for scale-bridging​​ in complex materials) is​​​‌ funded by the MIAI‌ Cluster and ANR through‌​‌ the France 2030 programme​​ (Grant agreement ANR-23-IACL-0006), for​​​‌ the period June 2025‌ – September 2029. Principal‌​‌ investigators: V. Acary and​​ F. Masi. The research​​​‌ is carried out jointly‌ by four teams: the‌​‌ INRIA Grenoble TRIPOP team​​ (V. Acary and F.​​​‌ Masi), the THOTH team‌ (M. Arbel), the Geomechanics‌​‌ group at 3SR-UGA (G.​​​‌ Viggiani), and the ECRINS​ team at INRAE-IGE (F.​‌ Bourrier, T. Faug). AIM's​​ interdisciplinary methodology bridges applied​​​‌ mathematics, mechanics, and artificial​ intelligence to better understand,​‌ model, and predict the​​ mechanics and dynamics of​​​‌ granular media. By combining​ high-fidelity particle-scale simulations, cutting-edge​‌ in-operando experiments, and developing​​ AI methods constrained by​​​‌ the fundamental principles from​ statistical physics and non-equilibrium​‌ thermodynamics, AIM will deliver​​ a proof of principle​​​‌ to robustly and accurately​ predict the fine- and​‌ large-scale behaviour of granular​​ systems. The project will​​​‌ also establish an innovation​ consortium dedicated to open-source​‌ software and build an​​ interdisciplinary training program at​​​‌ the intersection of AI​ and mechanics, equipping the​‌ next generation of scientists​​ and engineers. For more​​​‌ details, refer to the​ website.

10 Dissemination​‌

Participants: Vincent Acary,​​ Franck Bourrier, Bernard​​​‌ Brogliato, Olivier Goury​, Filippo Masi,​‌ Arnaud Tonnelier, Felix​​ Miranda Villatoro, Franck​​​‌ Pérignon, Antoine Cordoba​, Guillaume Mestdagh,​‌ Louis Guillet, Florian​​ Vincent.

10.1 Promoting​​​‌ scientific activities

10.1.1 Journal​

Member of the editorial​‌ boards
  • V. Acary is​​ editor and co-founder of​​​‌ the Journal of Theoretical,​ Computational and Applied Mechanics​‌ (JTCAM).
  • F. Bourrier is​​ a member of the​​​‌ Editorial Board of the​ Journal Landslides.
  • B. Brogliato​‌ was Guest Managing Editor​​ of a special issue​​​‌ of Nonlinear Analysis Hybrid​ Systems: Nonsmooth Dynamical Systems:​‌ Analysis, Control and Optimization​​, in the framework​​​‌ of the European Network​ on NonSmooth Dynamics.
Reviewer​‌ - reviewing activities

10.1.2 Invited​​​‌ talks

  • V. Acary. Invited‌ seminar at EPFL Civil‌​‌ Engineering Seminar Series, Lausanne,​​ March: Nonsmooth dynamics of​​​‌ extrinsic cohesive models for‌ fracture.
  • V. Acary. Invited‌​‌ seminar at GeM Laboratory,​​ Nantes University, Saint-Nazaire, June:​​​‌ An introduction to nonsmooth‌ dynamics and its applications‌​‌ in geomechanics.
  • V. Acary.​​ Keynote lecture at ICCCM​​​‌ 2025, 8th International Conference‌ on Computational Contact Mechanics,‌​‌ Munich, July.
  • V. Acary.​​ Invited seminar at Centre​​​‌ d'Automatique et des Systèmes‌ (CAS), Mines de Paris,‌​‌ October: Nonsmooth dynamics and​​ optimization. Solving the contact​​​‌ problem with friction using‌ an interior-point method and‌​‌ the asymptotic numerical method​​
  • V. Acary. Invited seminar​​​‌ at Laboratoire de Mécanique‌ de Paris-Saclay (LMPS), ENS‌​‌ Paris-Saclay, December: Nonsmooth dynamical​​ systems. Solving the contact​​​‌ problem with friction using‌ methods derived from large-scale‌​‌ optimization.
  • F. Masi. Invited​​ speaker at 2025 Mécamat​​​‌ National Congress “Homogénéisation‌ du comportement mécanique des‌​‌ matériaux hétérogènes” (​​programme, Aussois, France),​​​‌ January: Réseaux de neurones‌ artificiels basés sur la‌​‌ thermodynamique et modélisation multi-échelle​​.
  • F. Masi. Invited​​​‌ speaker at GdR MePhy‌ & GdR I-Gaia Day‌​‌ “Machine Learning in Mechanics​​ and Physics” (programme​​​‌, ENSAM Paris, France),‌ December: Discovering constitutive models‌​‌ from data and physics​​ via hard constraints.
  • F.​​​‌ Miranda Villatoro. Invited speaker‌ at the 12th Annual‌​‌ Symposium of the European​​ Network for Nonsmooth Dynamics,​​​‌ Germany, Erlangen, October: Discrete-time‌ multivalued port-Hamiltonian systems with‌​‌ sliding motions.

10.1.3 Leadership​​ within the scientific community​​​‌

10.2 Teaching‌ - Supervision - Juries‌​‌ - Educational and pedagogical​​ outreach

10.2.1 Teaching

  • Bachelor:​​​‌ F. Masi, “Introduction to‌ Numerical Methods” (19 h‌​‌ ETD) – Bachelor's degree​​ in Mathematics (L3M “Mathématiques”​​​‌ and L3MAA “Mathématiques Avec‌ Approfondissement”), Université Grenoble Alpes.‌​‌
  • Bachelor: A. Cordoba, “Software​​ Project” (30 h ETD)​​​‌ – Bachelor's degree in‌ Mathematics and Computer Science‌​‌ (L2), Université Grenoble Alpes.​​
  • Bachelor: F. Vincent, Practical​​​‌ sessions in “Convex Optimization”‌ (15 h ETD) –‌​‌ 2nd-year engineering students, Grenoble​​ INP – Ensimag.
  • Bachelor:​​​‌ F. Vincent, Practical sessions‌ in “Introduction to Numerical‌​‌ Methods” (13 h ETD),​​ Bachelor's degree in Mathematics​​​‌ (L3), Université Grenoble Alpes.‌
  • Master: F. Bourrier, Rockfall‌​‌ modeling (5 h ETD),​​ Master GAIA, Université Savoie​​​‌ Mont-Blanc.
  • Master: F. Bourrier,‌ “Slope stability” (25 h‌​‌ ETD), Polytech Grenoble 4th​​ year, Université Grenoble Alpes.​​​‌
  • Master: F. Bourrier. “Structural‌ analysis” (34 h ETD),‌​‌ Polytech Grenoble, 4th year,​​ Université Grenoble Alpes.
  • Master:​​​‌ F. Miranda Villatoro, “Distributed‌ Optimization” (15 h ETD),‌​‌ Master M2 Phitem, Université​​ Grenoble Alpes.
  • Master: F.​​​‌ Vincent, “Data Science” (24‌ h ETD) – Master‌​‌ M1 SSD, Université Grenoble​​ Alpes.
  • Master: F. Vincent,​​​‌ Practical sessions in “Introduction‌ to Operations Research” (12‌​‌ h ETD) – Master​​​‌ M2 SSD, Université Grenoble​ Alpes.
  • PhD: V. Acary,​‌ Introduction to Optimization (15​​ h ETD), Doctoral school.​​​‌
  • PhD: F. Masi, “Introduction​ to Machine Learning” &​‌ “Constitutive Modelling Meets Machine​​ Learning: Theory and Applications”​​​‌ & “Hands-on Session” (3​ h ETD), ALERT Olek​‌ Zienkiewicz Doctoral school (Prague,​​ Czech Republic): programme and​​​‌ pedagogic material.
  • PhD:​ F. Pérignon, “Outils collaboratifs/Git/Gitlab”,​‌ “Des sources à l'exécutable”,​​ “Introduction au calcul parallèle”​​​‌ (52 h ETD). Collège​ des écoles doctorales, Université​‌ Grenoble Alpes: pedagogic material​​.
  • PhD: F. Pérignon,​​​‌ “Forges logicielles et workflows”​ (one day) at thematic​‌ School “Open Science for​​ the Humanities and Social​​​‌ Sciences: Scripts, Codes, and​ Software”: programme.
  • PhD:​‌ F. Miranda Villatoro. “Convex​​ Optimization” (15 h ETD),​​​‌ Doctoral School.

10.2.2 Supervision​

  • Internship: Adrien Candela (May–Jun​‌ 2025) supervised by b.​​ Brogliato.
  • Internship: Rémi Ferrato​​​‌ (Jul–Aug 2025) supervised by​ F. Masi.
  • Master: Anton​‌ Denisenko (May–Aug 2025) supervised​​ by V. Acary and​​​‌ F. Bourrier.
  • Master: Kseniia​ Ovchinnikova (Jun–Aug 2025) supervised​‌ by O. Goury.
  • PhD:​​ Chloé Gergely (Nov 2024​​​‌ – ), supervised by​ V. Acary and F.​‌ Bourrier.
  • PhD: Louis Guillet​​ (Jan 2023 – Dec​​​‌ 2025), supervised by V.​ Acary, F. Bourrier, and​‌ O. Goury.
  • PhD: Henri​​ Leroy (Nov 2025 –​​​‌ ), supervised by F.​ Masi and V. Acary.​‌
  • PhD: Mattéo Oziol (Oct​​ 2023 – ), supervised​​​‌ by F. Bourrier, T.​ Faug, and V. Acary.​‌
  • PhD: Quang Hung Pham​​ (Dec 2022 – Nov​​​‌ 2025), supervised by B.​ Brogliato and F. Miranda​‌ Villatoro.
  • PhD: Florian Vincent​​ (Oct 2023 – ),​​​‌ supervised by V. Acary,​ F. Masi, and J.​‌ Malick (CNRS, LJK).
  • Postdoc:​​ Antoine Cordoba (Sep 2024​​​‌ – Feb 2026), supervised​ by A. Tonnelier in​‌ collaboration with S. Fenet​​ and P.Y. Longaretti (INRIA​​​‌ - STEEP).
  • Postdoc: Guillaume​ Mestdagh (May 2025 –),​‌ supervised by V. Acary.​​
  • Postdoc: Van Nam Vo​​​‌ (Oct 2025 –), supervised​ by B. Brogliato and​‌ F. Miranda Villatoro.

10.2.3​​ Juries

  • F. Bourrier was​​​‌ member of the PhD​ committee of Katarina Radišić​‌ under the supervision of​​ A. Vidard and C.​​​‌ Lauvernet, Université Grenoble Alpes.​
  • B. Brogliato was president​‌ of the PhD committee​​ of Min Li under​​​‌ the superivision of A.​ Polyakov and Gang Zheng,​‌ École Centrale de Lille.​​
  • F. Masi was member​​​‌ of the PhD committee​ of Pierre Hembert under​‌ the supervision of F.​​ Chinesta and C. Ghnatios,​​​‌ ENSAM Paris.
  • O. Goury​ was member of the​‌ jury SRP4ERC at Inria.​​

10.3 Popularization

10.3.1 Productions​​​‌ (articles, videos, podcasts, serious​ games, ...)

  • B. Brogliato​‌ participated in the clip​​ “Commander la machine​​​‌ avant qu'elle ne dérape​” (video)​‌ for L'esprit Sorcier TV​​ channel.
  • F. Masi participated​​​‌ in the MAI Days​ event and presented the​‌ MIAI chair AIM: video​​.
  • The article 11​​​‌ is featured in the​ cover of the October​‌ 2025 issue of IEEE​​ Control Systems Magazine.​​​‌
  • A. Cordoba participated in​ the Pizza Tech event​‌ by Inria | UGA​​ in September 2025: “​​​‌Le rapport du club​ de Rome”.
  • G.​‌ Mestdagh participated in the​​ Fête de la Science​​ outreach day at LJK​​​‌ with high-school classes in‌ October 2025.
  • L. Guillet‌​‌ participated in the Pizza​​ Tech event by Inria​​​‌ | UGA in October‌ 2025: “Modélisation des‌​‌ géo-matériaux”.

11 Scientific​​ production

11.1 Major publications​​​‌

  • 1 bookV.V.‌ Acary and B.B.‌​‌ Brogliato. Numerical methods​​ for nonsmooth dynamical systems.​​​‌ Applications in mechanics and‌ electronics.Lecture Notes‌​‌ in Applied and Computational​​ Mechanics 35. Berlin: Springer.​​​‌ xxi, 525~p. 2008
  • 2‌ bookB.Bernard Brogliato‌​‌. Nonsmooth Mechanics: Models,​​ Dynamics and Control.​​​‌Springer International Publishing Switzerland;‌ Communications and Control Engineering‌​‌2016HALDOIback​​ to textback to​​​‌ text

11.2 Publications of‌ the year

International journals‌​‌

International peer-reviewed conferences​‌

Scientific book chapters

  • 17​‌ inbookB.Bernard Brogliato​​. Multiple-Impact Modeling in​​​‌ Multibody Systems.Handbook​ on Nonlinear Dynamics, Vibrations​‌ and Acoustics; Volume 1:​​ Nonlinear Dynamics and Vibrations:​​​‌ Fundamental Concepts and Analytical​ MethodsWorld Scientific Publising​‌2025, 1-39HAL​​back to textback​​​‌ to text

Doctoral dissertations​ and habilitation theses

Reports & preprints

11.3 Cited‌​‌ publications

  • 24 articleV.​​Vincent Acary, P.​​​‌Paul Armand, H.‌Hoang Minh Nguyen and‌​‌ M.Maksym Shpakovych.​​ Second order cone programming​​​‌ for frictional contact mechanics‌ using interior point algorithm‌​‌.Optimization Methods and​​ Software3932024​​​‌, 634-663HALDOI‌back to text
  • 25‌​‌ inproceedingsV.Vincent Acary​​, P.Paul Armand​​​‌ and H. M.Hoang‌ Minh Nguyen. High-accuracy‌​‌ computation of rolling friction​​ contact problems.9th​​​‌ NAFOSTED Conference on Information‌ and Computer Science (NICS)‌​‌Ho Chi Minh City,​​ Vietnam, VietnamIEEEOctober​​​‌ 2022HALDOIback‌ to text
  • 26 book‌​‌V.Vincent Acary,​​ O.Olivier Bonnefon and​​​‌ B.Bernard Brogliato.‌ Nonsmooth modeling and simulation‌​‌ for switched circuits..​​Springer Netherlands2011back​​​‌ to textback to‌ text
  • 27 articleV.‌​‌Vincent Acary, F.​​Franck Bourrier and B.​​​‌Benoit Viano. Variational‌ approach for nonsmooth elasto-plastic‌​‌ dynamics with contact and​​ impacts.Computer Methods​​​‌ in Applied Mechanics and‌ Engineering414September 2023‌​‌, 116156HALDOI​​back to text
  • 28​​​‌ inbookV.Vincent Acary‌, M.Maurice Brémond‌​‌ and O.Olivier Huber​​. Advanced Topics in​​​‌ Nonsmooth Dynamics..Advanced‌ Topics in Nonsmooth Dynamics‌​‌To appearSpringer International​​ Publishing2018, On​​​‌ solving frictional contact problems:‌ formulations and comparisons of‌​‌ numerical methods.375--457back​​ to text
  • 29 incollection​​​‌V.Vincent Acary,‌ M.Maurice Brémond and‌​‌ O.Olivier Huber.​​ On solving contact problems​​​‌ with Coulomb friction: formulations‌ and numerical comparisons.‌​‌Advanced Topics in Nonsmooth​​ Dynamics - Transactions of​​​‌ the European Network for‌ Nonsmooth DynamicsJune 2018‌​‌, 375-457HALDOI​​back to text
  • 30​​​‌ inproceedingsV.V. Acary‌, M.M. Brémond‌​‌, K.K. Kapellos​​, J.J. Michalczyk​​​‌ and R.R. Pissard-Gibollet‌. Mechanical simulation of‌​‌ the Exomars rover using​​ Siconos in 3DROV.​​​‌ASTRA 2013 - 12th‌ Symposium on Advanced Space‌​‌ Technologies in Robotics and​​ AutomationESA/ESTECNoordwijk, Netherlands​​​‌2013back to text‌
  • 31 techreportV.V.‌​‌ Acary, M.M.​​ Brémond, T.T.​​​‌ Koziara and F.F.‌ Pérignon. FCLIB: a‌​‌ collection of discrete 3D​​ Frictional Contact problems.​​​‌RT-0444INRIA2014,‌ 34HALback to‌​‌ text
  • 32 articleV.​​Vincent Acary, B.​​​‌Bernard Brogliato and D.‌Daniel Goeleven. Higher‌​‌ order Moreau's sweeping process:​​ mathematical formulation and numerical​​​‌ simulation.Mathematical Programming‌11312008,‌​‌ 133--217back to text​​back to textback​​​‌ to text
  • 33 article‌V.Vincent Acary and‌​‌ B.Bernard Brogliato.​​ Implicit Euler numerical scheme​​​‌ and chattering-free implementation of‌ sliding mode systems.‌​‌Systems &amp; Control Letters​​595doi:10.1016/j.sysconle.2010.03.0022010​​​‌, 284--293back to‌ text
  • 34 bookV.‌​‌V. Acary and B.​​B. Brogliato. Numerical​​​‌ methods for nonsmooth dynamical‌ systems. Applications in mechanics‌​‌ and electronics..Lecture​​ Notes in Applied and​​​‌ Computational Mechanics 35. Berlin:‌ Springer. xxi, 525~p. 2008‌​‌back to textback​​​‌ to text
  • 35 article​V.V. Acary,​‌ B.B. Brogliato and​​ Y. V.Y. V.​​​‌ Orlov. Chattering-Free Digital​ Sliding-Mode Control With State​‌ Observer and Disturbance Rejection​​.IEEE Transactions on​​​‌ Automatic Control575​2012, 1087--1101back​‌ to text
  • 36 article​​V.Vincent Acary.​​​‌ Energy conservation and dissipation​ properties of time-integration methods​‌ for the nonsmooth elastodynamics​​ with contact.ZAMM​​​‌ - Journal of Applied​ Mathematics and Mechanics /​‌ Zeitschrift für Angewandte Mathematik​​ und Mechanik965​​​‌2016, 585--603back​ to textback to​‌ text
  • 37 articleV.​​Vincent Acary. Higher​​​‌ order event capturing time--stepping​ schemes for nonsmooth multibody​‌ systems with unilateral constraints​​ and impacts..Applied​​​‌ Numerical Mathematics6210​2012, 1259--1275back​‌ to text
  • 38 article​​V.Vincent Acary,​​​‌ H.Hidde de Jong​ and B.Bernard Brogliato​‌. Numerical Simulation of​​ Piecewise-Linear Models of Gene​​​‌ Regulatory Networks Using Complementarity​ Systems Theory.Physica​‌ D: Nonlinear Phenomena269​​2013, 103--119back​​​‌ to textback to​ textback to text​‌back to text
  • 39​​ techreportV.V. Acary​​​‌ and Y.Y. Monerie​. Nonsmooth fracture dynamics​‌ using a cohesive zone​​ approach.RR-6032INRIA​​​‌2006, 56back​ to text
  • 40 article​‌V.Vincent Acary.​​ Projected event-capturing time-stepping schemes​​​‌ for nonsmooth mechanical systems​ with unilateral contact and​‌ Coulomb's friction.Computer​​ Methods in Applied Mechanics​​​‌ and Engineering2562013​, 224--250back to​‌ text
  • 41 articleN.​​Narendra Akhadkar, V.​​​‌Vincent Acary and B.​Bernard Brogliato. Multibody​‌ systems with 3D revolute​​ joint clearance, modelling, numerical​​​‌ simulation and experimental validation:​ an industrial case study​‌.Multibody System Dynamics​​4232017,​​​‌ 249--282back to text​back to text
  • 42​‌ articleR.R. Alur​​, C.C. Courcoubetis​​​‌, N.N. Halbwachs​, T.T.A. Henzinger​‌, P.-H.P.-H. Ho​​, X.X. Nicollin​​​‌, A.A. Olivero​, J.J. Sifakis​‌ and S.S. Yovine​​. The algorithmic analysis​​​‌ of hybrid systems..​Theoretical Computer Science138​‌11995, 3--34​​back to text
  • 43​​​‌ articleA.Amir Beck​ and M.Marc Teboulle​‌. A Fast Iterative​​ Shrinkage-Thresholding Algorithm for Linear​​​‌ Inverse Problems.SIAM​ Journal on Imaging Sciences​‌212009,​​ 183--202back to text​​​‌
  • 44 bookM.M.​ di Bernardo, C.​‌C.J. Budd, A.​​A.R. Champneys and P.​​​‌P. Kowalczyk. Piecewise-smooth​ dynamical systems : theory​‌ and applications.Applied​​ mathematical sciencesLondonSpringer​​​‌2008back to text​
  • 45 articleF.Franck​‌ Bourrier, F.Frédéric​​ Berger, P.Pascal​​​‌ Tardif, L.Luuk​ Dorren and O.Oldrich​‌ Hungr. Rockfall rebound:​​ comparison of detailed field​​​‌ experiments and alternative modelling​ approaches.Earth Surface​‌ Processes and Landforms37​​62012, 656--665​​​‌back to textback​ to textback to​‌ text
  • 46 articleF.​​Franck Bourrier, L.​​​‌Luuk Dorren, F.​François Nicot, F.​‌Frédéric Berger and F.​​Félix Darve. Toward​​ objective rockfall trajectory simulation​​​‌ using a stochastic impact‌ model.Geomorphology110‌​‌3-42009, 68--79​​back to textback​​​‌ to textback to‌ text
  • 47 articleB.‌​‌B. Brogliato and L.​​L. Thibault. Existence​​​‌ and uniqueness of solutions‌ for non-autonomous complementarity dynamical‌​‌ systems.J. Convex​​ Anal.173-42010​​​‌, 961--990back to‌ text
  • 48 articleO.‌​‌Olivier Brüls, V.​​Vincent Acary and A.​​​‌Alberto Cardona. Simultaneous‌ enforcement of constraints at‌​‌ position and velocity levels​​ in the nonsmooth generalized-​​​‌ scheme.Computer Methods‌ in Applied Mechanics and‌​‌ Engineering2812014,​​ 131--161HALback to​​​‌ text
  • 49 miscB.‌B. Caillaud. Hybrid‌​‌ vs. nonsmooth dynamical systems​​.http://synchron2014.inria.fr/wp-content/uploads/sites/13/2014/12/Caillaud-nsds.pdf2014back​​​‌ to text
  • 50 article‌G.G. Capobianco and‌​‌ S. R.S. R.​​ Eugster. Time finite​​​‌ element based Moreau‐type integrators‌.International Journal for‌​‌ Numerical Methods in Engineering​​11432018,​​​‌ 215--231back to text‌
  • 51 articleL. P.‌​‌Luca P. Carloni,​​ R.Roberto Passerone,​​​‌ A.Alessandro Pinto and‌ A. L.Alberto L.‌​‌ Angiovanni-Vincentelli. Languages and​​ tools for hybrid systems​​​‌ design.Foundations and‌ Trends in Electronic Design‌​‌ Automation11/22006​​, 1--193back to​​​‌ text
  • 52 articleQ.-z.‌Qiong-zhong Chen, V.‌​‌Vincent Acary, G.​​Geoffrey Virlez and O.​​​‌Olivier Brüls. A‌ nonsmooth generalized- scheme for‌​‌ flexible multibody systems with​​ unilateral constraints.International​​​‌ Journal for Numerical Methods‌ in Engineering968‌​‌2013, 487--511back​​ to text
  • 53 unpublished​​​‌N. A.Nicholas Anton‌ Collins-Craft and V.Vincent‌​‌ Acary. On the​​ formulation and implementation of​​​‌ mixed mode I and‌ mode II extrinsic cohesive‌​‌ zone models with contact​​ and friction.August​​​‌ 2025, working paper‌ or preprintHALback‌​‌ to text
  • 54 article​​N. A.Nicholas Anton​​​‌ Collins-Craft, F.Franck‌ Bourrier and V.Vincent‌​‌ Acary. On the​​ formulation and implementation of​​​‌ extrinsic cohesive zone models‌ with contact.Computer‌​‌ Methods in Applied Mechanics​​ and Engineering400October​​​‌ 2022, 115545HAL‌DOIback to text‌​‌
  • 55 bookR. W.​​R. W. Cottle,​​​‌ J.J. Pang and‌ R. E.R. E.‌​‌ Stone. The Linear​​ Complementarity Problem.Boston,​​​‌ MAAcademic Press, Inc.‌1992back to text‌​‌back to text
  • 56​​ articleL.Luuk Dorren​​​‌, F.Frédéric Berger‌, M.Martin Jonsson‌​‌, M.Michael Krautblatter​​, M.Michael Mölk​​​‌, M.Markus Stoffel‌ and A.André Wehrli‌​‌. State of the​​ art in rockfall –​​​‌ forest interactions.Schweizerische‌ Zeitschrift fur Forstwesen158‌​‌62007, 128--141​​back to text
  • 57​​​‌ articleS.S. Dupire‌, F.F. Bourrier‌​‌, J.-M.J.-M. Monnet​​, S.S. Bigot​​​‌, L.L. Borgniet‌, F.F. Berger‌​‌ and T.T. Curt​​. Novel quantitative indicators​​​‌ to characterize the protective‌ effect of mountain forests‌​‌ against rockfall.Ecological​​ Indicators672016,​​​‌ 98--107back to text‌back to text
  • 58‌​‌ bookF.F. Facchinei​​​‌ and J. S.J.​ S. Pang. Finite-dimensional​‌ Variational Inequalities and Complementarity​​ Problems. I &​​​‌ IISpringer Series in​ Operations ResearchSpringer New​‌ York2003back to​​ text
  • 59 bookA.​​​‌ F.A. F. Filippov​. Differential Equations with​‌ Discontinuous Right Hand Sides​​.Dordrecht, the Netherlands​​​‌Kluwer1988back to​ textback to text​‌back to text
  • 60​​ articleM. P.M.​​​‌ P. Friedlander and D.​D. Orban. A​‌ primal--dual regularized interior-point method​​ for convex quadratic programs​​​‌.Mathematical Programming Computation​412012,​‌ 71--107back to text​​
  • 61 articleF.F.​​​‌ Génot and B.B.​ Brogliato. New results​‌ on Painlevé Paradoxes.​​European Journal of Mechanics​​​‌ - A/Solids184​1999, 653--677back​‌ to text
  • 62 book​​D.D. Goeleven.​​​‌ Complementarity and Variational Inequalities​ in Electronics.Academic​‌ Press2017back to​​ text
  • 63 inproceedingsL.​​​‌Louis Guillet, V.​Vincent Acary, F.​‌Franck Bourrier and O.​​Olivier Goury. Semi-smooth​​​‌ Newton method for nonassociative​ plasticity using the bi-potential​‌ approach.16ème Colloque​​ National en Calcul de​​​‌ Structures (CSMA 2024)CNRS​ and CSMA and ENS​‌ Paris-Saclay and CentraleSupélecHyères,​​ FranceMay 2024HAL​​​‌back to text
  • 64​ articleR.Ritesh Gupta​‌, F.Franck Bourrier​​, V.Vincent Acary​​​‌ and S.Stéphane Lambert​. Bayesian interface based​‌ calibration of a novel​​ rockfall protection structure modelled​​​‌ in the Non-smooth contact​ dynamics framework.Engineering​‌ Structures297December 2023​​, 116936HALDOI​​​‌back to textback​ to text
  • 65 unpublished​‌R.Ritesh Gupta,​​ F.Franck Bourrier and​​​‌ S.Stéphane Lambert.​ Inverse analysis of the​‌ impact response of a​​ rockfall protection structure: Application​​​‌ towards warning and survey​.2024, working​‌ paper or preprintHAL​​back to text
  • 66​​​‌ inproceedingsT. A.Thomas​ A. Henzinger. The​‌ Theory of Hybrid Automata​​.Verification of Digital​​​‌ and Hybrid SystemsSpringer​ Berlin Heidelberg1996,​‌ 265--292back to text​​
  • 67 bookJ.-B.Jean-Baptiste​​​‌ Hiriart-Urruty and C.Claude​ Lemaréchal. Convex Analysis​‌ and Minimization Algorithms.​​I and IISpringer​​​‌ Berlin Heidelberg1993back​ to text
  • 68 book​‌J.-B.Jean-Baptiste Hiriart-Urruty and​​ C.Claude Lemaréchal.​​​‌ Fundamentals of Convex Analysis​.Springer Berlin Heidelberg​‌2001back to text​​back to text
  • 69​​​‌ articleO.Olivier Huber​, V.Vincent Acary​‌, B.Bernard Brogliato​​ and F.Franck Plestan​​​‌. Implicit discrete-time twisting​ controller without numerical chattering:​‌ analysis and experimental results​​.Control Engineering Practice​​​‌462016, 129--141​back to text
  • 70​‌ incollectionO.O. Huber​​, B.B. Brogliato​​​‌, V.V. Acary​, A.A. Boubakir​‌, F.F. Plestan​​ and W.Wang B.​​​‌. Experimental results on​ implicit and explicit time-discretization​‌ of equivalent-control-based sliding-mode control​​.Recent Trends in​​​‌ Sliding Mode ControlInstitution​ of Engineering and Technology​‌2016, 207--235HAL​​back to text
  • 71​​​‌ articleG.Guillaume James​, P. G.Panayotis​‌ G. Kevrekidis and J.​​Jesús Cuevas. Breathers​​ in oscillator chains with​​​‌ Hertzian interactions.Physica‌ D: Nonlinear Phenomena251‌​‌2013, 39--59back​​ to text
  • 72 article​​​‌G.Guillaume James.‌ Periodic travelling waves and‌​‌ compactons in granular chains​​.Journal of Nonlinear​​​‌ Science2252012‌, 813--848back to‌​‌ text
  • 73 articleM.​​Michel Jean, V.​​​‌Vincent Acary and Y.‌Yann Monerie. Non‌​‌ Smooth Contact dynamics approach​​ of cohesive materials.​​​‌Philosophical Transactions of the‌ Royal Society of London.‌​‌ Series A: Mathematical, Physical​​ and Engineering Sciences359​​​‌17892001, 2497--2518‌back to text
  • 74‌​‌ articleM.Margreth Keiler​​, J.Jasper Knight​​​‌ and S.Stephan Harrison‌. Climate change and‌​‌ geomorphological hazards in the​​ eastern European Alps.​​​‌Philosophical Transactions of the‌ Royal Society A: Mathematical,‌​‌ Physical and Engineering Sciences​​36819192010,​​​‌ 2461--2479back to text‌
  • 75 articleS.Stéphane‌​‌ Lambert and F.Franck​​ Bourrier. Flexible Facing​​​‌ Systems for Surficial Slope‌ Stabilisation: A Literature Review‌​‌.Geotechnical and Geological​​ Engineering422024,​​​‌ 5425-5446HALDOIback‌ to text
  • 76 article‌​‌R. I.R. I.​​ Leine, A.A.​​​‌ Schweizer, M.M.‌ Christen, J.J.‌​‌ Glover, P.P.​​ Bartelt and W.W.​​​‌ Gerber. Simulation of‌ rockfall trajectories with consideration‌​‌ of rock shape.​​Multibody System Dynamics32​​​‌22014, 241--271‌back to text
  • 77‌​‌ bookR.R. Leine​​ and N.N. van​​​‌ de Wouw. Stability‌ and Convergence of Mechanical‌​‌ Systems with Unilateral Constraints​​.36Lecture Notes​​​‌ in Applied and Computational‌ MechanicsSpringer Verlag2008‌​‌back to text
  • 78​​ articleL.Lifeng Liu​​​‌, G.Guillaume James‌, P.Panayotis Kevrekidis‌​‌ and A.Anna Vainchtein​​. Nonlinear waves in​​​‌ a strongly resonant granular‌ chain.Nonlinearity29‌​‌112016, 3496--3527​​back to text
  • 79​​​‌ articleF. A.Felix‌ A. Miranda-Villatoro, B.‌​‌Bernard Brogliato and F.​​Fernando Castanos. Multivalued​​​‌ Robust Tracking Control of‌ Lagrange Systems: Continuous and‌​‌ Discrete--Time Algorithms.IEEE​​ Transactions on Automatic Control​​​‌6292017,‌ 4436--4450back to text‌​‌
  • 80 articleF. A.​​Félix A Miranda-Villatoro,​​​‌ F.Fulvio Forni and‌ R. J.Rodolphe J‌​‌ Sepulchre. Dissipativity analysis​​ of negative resistance circuits​​​‌.Automatica1362022‌, 110011back to‌​‌ text
  • 81 techreportJ.​​J.E. Morales, G.​​​‌G. James and A.‌A. Tonnelier. Solitary‌​‌ waves in the excitable​​ Burridge-Knopoff model.RR-8996​​​‌To appear in Wave‌ Motion.INRIA Grenoble -‌​‌ Rhône-Alpes2016, 103--121​​HALback to text​​​‌
  • 82 articleA.Ahmad‌ Morsel, F.Filippo‌​‌ Masi, P.Panagiotis​​ Kotronis and I.Ioannis​​​‌ Stefanou. Measurement, self-similarity,‌ and TNT equivalence of‌​‌ blasts from exploding wires​​.Shock Waves35​​​‌12025, 17--35‌HALDOIback to‌​‌ text
  • 83 articleA.​​Ahmad Morsel, F.​​​‌Filippo Masi, E.‌Emmanuel Marché, G.‌​‌Guillaume Racineux, P.​​Panagiotis Kotronis and I.​​​‌Ioannis Stefanou. miniBLAST:‌ a novel experimental setup‌​‌ for laboratory testing of​​​‌ structures under blast loads​.Experimental Techniques2025​‌, 1--21HALDOI​​back to textback​​​‌ to text
  • 84 article​Y.Y. Nesterov.​‌ A method of solving​​ a convex programming problem​​​‌ with convergence rate O​(1/k​‌ 2 ).Soviet​​ Mathematics Doklady272​​​‌1983, 372--376back​ to text
  • 85 inproceedings​‌M.-H.Minh-Hoang Nguyen,​​ V.Vincent Acary and​​​‌ P.Paul Armand.​ Second-order cone programming for​‌ rolling friction contact mechanics​​.SMAI MODE 2022​​​‌2022back to text​
  • 86 bookN.N.S.​‌ Nguyen and B.B.​​ Brogliato. Multiple Impacts​​​‌ in Dissipative Granular Chains​.72Lecture Notes​‌ in Applied and Computational​​ MechanicsXXII, 234 p.​​​‌ 109 illus.Springer Verlag​2014back to text​‌
  • 87 mastersthesisM. H.​​Minh Hoang Nguyen.​​​‌ Numerical optimization for rolling​ frictional contact problems.​‌MA ThesisUniversité de​​ LimogesSeptember 2021HAL​​​‌back to text
  • 88​ articleM. A.Mason​‌ A. Porter, P.​​ G.Panayotis G. Kevrekidis​​​‌ and C.Chiara Daraio​. Granular crystals: Nonlinear​‌ dynamics meets materials engineering​​.Physics Today68​​​‌112015, 44--50​back to text
  • 89​‌ phdthesisA.Armin Rist​​. Hydrothermal processes within​​​‌ the active layer above​ alpine permafrost in steep​‌ scree slopes and their​​ influence on slope stability​​​‌.University of Zurich​2007back to text​‌
  • 90 bookR. T.​​Ralph Tyrell Rockafellar.​​​‌ Convex Analysis.Princeton​ University Press1970back​‌ to text
  • 91 article​​T.Thorsten Schindler and​​​‌ V.Vincent Acary.​ Timestepping schemes for nonsmooth​‌ dynamics based on discontinuous​​ Galerkin methods: Definition and​​​‌ outlook.Mathematics and​ Computers in Simulation95​‌2013, 180--199back​​ to text
  • 92 article​​​‌T.Thorsten Schindler,​ S.Shahed Rezaei,​‌ J.Jochen Kursawe and​​ V.Vincent Acary.​​​‌ Half-explicit timestepping schemes on​ velocity level based on​‌ time-discontinuous Galerkin methods.​​Computer Methods in Applied​​​‌ Mechanics and Engineering290​152015, 250--276​‌back to text
  • 93​​ mastersthesisM.Maksym Shpakovych​​​‌. Numerical optimization for​ frictional contact problems.​‌MA ThesisUniversité de​​ LimogesSeptember 2019HAL​​​‌back to text
  • 94​ bookC.C. Studer​‌. Numerics of Unilateral​​ Contacts and Friction. --​​​‌ Modeling and Numerical Time​ Integration in Non-Smooth Dynamics​‌.47Lecture Notes​​ in Applied and Computational​​​‌ MechanicsSpringer Verlag2009​back to text