A switching-parameter algorithm for finding multiple solutions of nonlinear resistive circuits

An efficient algorithm for finding multiple solutions of a system of nonlinear algebraic equations is presented. This algorithm consists of solving an associated system of first order nonlinear differential equations whose independent variable may be switched from one variable to another during each integration step. The choice of the forward Euler predictor and Newton-Raphson corrector for integrating the differential equations leads to an extremely efficient method for implementing this switching-parameter algorithm. This approach involves only the recursive solution of an associated system of linear algebraic equations and can be easily programmed. The switching-parameter algorithm can also be used to derive the driving-point or transfer characteristic curve of multivalued resistive nonlinear networks.