Global Dynamics of Planar Piecewise Linear Inelastic systems having straight lines as switching manifolds

Abstract

In this paper we classify the phase portrait and the limit sets of a special class of piecewise smooth vector fields in the plane with different configurations of straight lines as switching manifolds. We study the behavior at infinity through a Poincaré compactification as well as the relations between canonical regions and vector fields which are defined over the switching regions. Results addressing the global behavior of trajectories, tangency points, vector fields over the switching manifolds, and equilibrium and pseudo-equilibrium points at the finite and the infinite part are stated. In particular, we prove the existence of 123 distinct phase portraits for the class of piecewise smooth vector fields that we consider.