Novel Hybrid Function Operational Matrices of Fractional Integration: An Application for Solving Multi-Order Fractional Differential Equations

Although fractional calculus has evolved significantly since its origin in the 1695 correspondence between Leibniz and L’Hôpital, the numerical treatment of multi-order fractional differential equations remains a challenge. Existing methods are often either computationally expensive or reliant on complex operational frameworks that hinder their broader applicability. In the present study, a novel numerical algorithm is proposed based on orthogonal hybrid functions (HFs), which were constructed as linear combinations of piecewise constant sample-and-hold functions and piecewise linear triangular functions. These functions, belonging to the class of degree-1 orthogonal polynomials, were employed to obtain the numerical solution of multi-order fractional differential equations defined in the Caputo sense. A generalized one-shot operational matrix was derived to explicitly express the Riemann–Liouville fractional integral of HFs in terms of the HFs themselves. This allowed the original multi-order fractional differential equation to be transformed directly into a system of algebraic equations, thereby simplifying the solution process. The developed algorithm was then applied to a range of benchmark problems, including both linear and nonlinear multi-order FDEs with constant and variable coefficients. Numerical comparisons with well-established methods in the literature revealed that the proposed approach not only achieved higher accuracy but also significantly reduced computational effort, demonstrating its potential as a reliable and efficient numerical tool for fractional-order modeling.