# Event-Structured Physics-Informed Neural Networks for Differentiable Critical Clearing Boundaries

arXiv: https://arxiv.org/abs/2607.27681 · HTML: https://mlsanity.com/paper/2607.27681/

## Key facts

- No citing papers in the map yet (data through 14 Oct 2026).
- Builds on 8 of its 14 references that are in the map.
- First posted on arXiv 30 Jul 2026.

## Builds on (most cited first, 8 of 8)

- [Outrageously Large Neural Networks: The Sparsely-Gated Mixture-of-Experts Layer](https://mlsanity.com/paper/1701.06538/) (2017)
- [DeepONet: Learning nonlinear operators for identifying differential equations based on the universal approximation theorem of operators](https://mlsanity.com/paper/1910.03193/) (2019)
- [Learning the solution operator of parametric partial differential equations with physics-informed DeepOnets](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2103.10974/) (2021)
- [Physics-Informed Neural Networks for Power Systems](https://mlsanity.com/paper/1911.03737/) (2019)
- [DAE-PINN: A Physics-Informed Neural Network Model for Simulating Differential-Algebraic Equations with Application to Power Networks](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2109.04304/) (2021)
- [Physics-Informed Neural Networks for Time-Domain Simulations: Accuracy, Computational Cost, and Flexibility](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2303.08994/) (2023)
- [Capturing Power System Dynamics by Physics-Informed Neural Networks and Optimization](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2103.17004/) (2021)
- [Critical Clearing Time Sensitivity for Differential-Algebraic Power System Model](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2007.10813/) (2020)

## Abstract (arXiv)

Transient-stability assessment determines whether a power system can recover after a disturbance and is therefore essential to preventing generator trips and cascading outages. A key metric is the critical clearing time (CCT), which specifies the maximum time available to clear a fault before synchronism is lost. Reliable CCT estimation is challenging because complicated fault-clearing dynamics require repeated simulations over many fault severities and clearing times. We propose an event-structured physics-informed neural network (ES-PINN) that aligns its representation with the pre-fault, fault-on, and post-clearing swing dynamics and enforces exact state chaining across event interfaces. A smooth trajectory-induced stability margin defines a differentiable approximation of the CCT boundary, enabling accurate boundary extraction, local sensitivity analysis, and optional direct CCT prediction through a distilled readout. We further prove a local residual-to-trajectory-to-CCT error estimate, in which exact event chaining eliminates separate state-interface defect terms. Experiments on IEEE 9-, 14-, and 30-bus systems show that ES-PINN consistently improves held-out trajectory and stability-boundary accuracy over matched neural-surrogate baselines across mechanical and electrical contingencies with multiple clearing configurations. Additional full-network DAE validation, multi-fault experiments, and runtime analyses further demonstrate the effectiveness and computational efficiency of the proposed framework.