We present a general-purpose numerical scheme for time integration of Lagrangian dynamical systems—an important
computational tool at the core of most physics-based animation techniques. Several features make this
particular time integrator highly desirable for computer animation: it numerically preserves important invariants,
such as linear and angular momenta; the symplectic nature of the integrator also guarantees a correct energy
behavior, even when dissipation and external forces are added; holonomic constraints can also be enforced quite
simply; finally, our simple methodology allows for the design of high-order accurate schemes if needed. Two key
properties set the method apart from earlier approaches. First, the nonlinear equations that must be solved during
an update step are replaced by a minimization of a novel functional, speeding up time stepping by more than a
factor of two in practice. Second, the formulation introduces additional variables that provide key flexibility in the
implementation of the method. These properties are achieved using a discrete form of a general variational principle
called the Pontryagin-Hamilton principle, expressing time integration in a geometric manner. We demonstrate
the applicability of our integrators to the simulation of non-linear elasticity with implementation details