Model order reduction of piecewise linear mechanical systems using invariant cones

Abstract We present a methodology that extends invariant manifold theory to a class of autonomous piecewise linear systems with nonsmoothness at the equilibrium, providing a framework for model order reduction in mechanical structures with compliant contact laws. The key idea is to make the absence of a local linearization around the equilibrium tractable by leveraging the positive homogeneity property. This property simplifies the invariance equations defining the geometry of the invariant cones, from a set of partial differential equations to a system of ordinary differential equations, enabling their effective solution. We introduce two techniques to compute these invariant cones. First, an intuitive graph-style parametrization is proposed that utilizes Fourier expansions and Chebyshev polynomials to derive explicit reduced-order models in closed form. Second, an arc-length parametrization is introduced to robustly compute invariant cones with complex folding geometries, which are intractable with a standard graph-style technique. The approach is demonstrated on mechanical oscillators with unilateral visco-elastic supports, showcasing its applicability for systems with both continuous (unilateral elastic) and discontinuous (unilateral visco-elastic) unilateral force laws.