ABSTRACT
In dynamical systems modeling, discontinuities are widely used to model, for example, electronic relays, mechanical impact, and stick-slip motion; see e.g. (1999, 2008). The study of such systems has progressed largely by extending concepts from dynamical systems theory for smooth models, into a theory of piecewise-smooth dynamics. In recent years, however, certain discontinuity-induced phenomena have come to light that have no counterpart in smooth systems. novel topological sources of unpredictable behaviour, and offer insight into the idealizations that are made in deriving empirical models of switching behaviour.
