Robustness analysis of global exponential stability of non-linear systems with time delays and neutral terms

The global stability of non-linear dynamical systems has been investigated extensively in recent decades. It is well known that time delay and neutral term could derail the stability of non-linear systems. This study presents new results on the robustness of the global exponential stability of non-linear systems with respect to time delay and neutral term. Given globally exponentially stable non-linear systems, the problems to be addressed herein are how much time delay and neutral term contraction coefficient are allowed so that the non-linear systems can remain to be globally exponentially stable, in the presence of time delay and neutral term. Upper bounds of allowable time delay and neutral term contraction coefficient will be derived for non-linear systems to sustain their global exponential stability. A numerical example is provided to illustrate the results. © The Institution of Engineering and Technology 2013.