Weak Form of Stokes-Dirac Structures and Geometric Discretization of Port-Hamiltonian Systems

We present the mixed Galerkin discretization of distributed parameter port-Hamiltonian systems. On the prototypical example of hyperbolic systems of two conservation laws in arbitrary spatial dimension, we derive the main contributions: (i) A weak formulation of the underlying geometric (Stokes-Dirac) structure with a segmented boundary according to the causality of the boundary ports. (ii) The geometric approximation of the Stokes-Dirac structure by a finite-dimensional Dirac structure is realized using a mixed Galerkin approach and power-preserving linear maps, which define minimal discrete power variables. (iii) With a consistent approximation of the Hamiltonian, we obtain finite-dimensional port-Hamiltonian state space models. By the degrees of freedom in the power-preserving maps, the resulting family of structure-preserving schemes allows for trade-offs between centered approximations and upwinding. We illustrate the method on the example of Whitney finite elements on a 2D simplicial triangulation and compare the eigenvalue approximation in 1D with a related approach.Comment: Copyright 2018. This manuscript version is made available under the CC-BY-NC-ND 4.0 license http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0

Hamiltonian formulation of distributed-parameter systems with boundary energy flow

A Hamiltonian formulation of classes of distributed-parameter systems is presented, which incorporates the energy flow through the boundary of the spatial domain of the system, and which allows to represent the system as a boundary control Hamiltonian system. The system is Hamiltonian with respect to an infinite-dimensional Dirac structure associated with the exterior derivative and based on Stokes' theorem. The theory is applied to the telegraph equations for an ideal transmission line, Maxwell's equations on a bounded domain with non-zero Poynting vector at its boundary, and a vibrating string with traction forces at its ends. Furthermore the framework is extended to cover Euler's equations for an ideal fluid on a domain with permeable boundary. Finally, some properties of the Stokes-Dirac structure are investigated, including the analysis of conservation laws. \u

A geometric Birkhoffian formalism for nonlinear RLC networks

The aim of this paper is to give a formulation of the dynamics of nonlinear RLC circuits as a geometric Birkhoffian system and to discuss in this context the concepts of regularity, conservativeness, dissipativeness. An RLC circuit, with no assumptions placed on its topology, will be described by a family of Birkhoffian systems, parameterized by a finite number of real constants which correspond to initial values of certain state variables of the circuit. The configuration space and a special Pfaffian form, called Birkhoffian, are obtained from the constitutive relations of the resistors, inductors and capacitors involved and from Kirchhoff's laws. Under certain assumptions on the voltage-current characteristic for resistors, it is shown that a Birkhoffian system associated to an RLC circuit is dissipative. For RLC networks which contain a number of pure capacitor loops or pure resistor loops the Birkhoffian associated is never regular. A procedure to reduce the original configuration space to a lower dimensional one, thereby regularizing the Birkhoffian, it is also presented. In order to illustrate the results, specific examples are discussed in detail.Comment: 30 pages, 2 figure

Geometry of Thermodynamic Processes

Since the 1970s contact geometry has been recognized as an appropriate framework for the geometric formulation of the state properties of thermodynamic systems, without, however, addressing the formulation of non-equilibrium thermodynamic processes. In Balian & Valentin (2001) it was shown how the symplectization of contact manifolds provides a new vantage point; enabling, among others, to switch between the energy and entropy representations of a thermodynamic system. In the present paper this is continued towards the global geometric definition of a degenerate Riemannian metric on the homogeneous Lagrangian submanifold describing the state properties, which is overarching the locally defined metrics of Weinhold and Ruppeiner. Next, a geometric formulation is given of non-equilibrium thermodynamic processes, in terms of Hamiltonian dynamics defined by Hamiltonian functions that are homogeneous of degree one in the co-extensive variables and zero on the homogeneous Lagrangian submanifold. The correspondence between objects in contact geometry and their homogeneous counterparts in symplectic geometry, as already largely present in the literature, appears to be elegant and effective. This culminates in the definition of port-thermodynamic systems, and the formulation of interconnection ports. The resulting geometric framework is illustrated on a number of simple examples, already indicating its potential for analysis and control.Comment: 23 page

On the Hamiltonian formulation of nonholonomic mechanical systems

A simple procedure is provided to write the equations of motion of mechanical systems with constraints as Hamiltonian equations with respect to a ¿Poisson¿ bracket on the constrained state space, which does not necessarily satisfy the Jacobi identity. It is shown that the Jacobi identity is satisfied if and only if the constraints are holonomic

Port controlled Hamiltonian representation of distributed parameter systems

A port controlled Hamiltonian formulation of the dynamics of distributed parameter systems is presented, which incorporates the energy flow through the boundary of the domain of the system, and which allows to represent the system as a boundary control Hamiltonian system. This port controlled Hamiltonian system is defined with respect to a Dirac structure associated with the exterior derivative and based on Stokes' theorem. The definition is illustrated on the examples of the telegrapher's equations, Maxwell's equations and the vibrating string. \u

Conservation laws and open systems on higher-dimensional networks

We discuss a framework for defining physical open systems on higher-dimensional complexes. We start with the formalization of the dynamics of open electrical circuits and the Kirchhoff behavior of the underlying open graph or 1-complex. It is discussed how the graph can be closed to an ordinary graph, and how this defines a Dirac structure on the extended graph. Then it is shown how this formalism can be extended to arbitrary k-complexes, which is illustrated by a discrete formulation of heat transfer on a two-dimensional spatial domain.

An intrinsic Hamiltonian formulation of the dynamics of LC-circuits

First, the dynamics of LC-circuits are formulated as a Hamiltonian system defined with respect to a Poisson bracket which may be degenerate, i.e., nonsymplectic. This Poisson bracket is deduced from the network graph of the circuit and captures the dynamic invariants due to Kirchhoff's laws. Second, the antisymmetric relations defining the Poisson bracket are realized as a physical network using the gyrator element and partially dualizing the network graph constraints. From the network realization of the Poisson bracket, the reduced standard Hamiltonian system as well as the realization of the embedding standard Hamiltonian system are deduce

Port contact systems for irreversible thermodynamical systems

In this paper we propose a definition of control contact systems, generalizing input-output Hainiltonian systems, to cope with models arising from irreversible Thermodynamics. We exhibit a particular subclass of these systems, called conservative, that leaves invariant some Legendre submanifold (the geometric structures associated with thermodynamic properties). These systems, both energy-preserving and irreversible, are then used to analyze the loss-lessness of these systems with respect to different generating functions