Active control of flexible structures – From modelling to implementation

The monograph covers the topic of vibration control for large scale flexible structures subject to broadband primary vibration field. The book yields a complete approach to a vibration control problem, from experimental structural characterization to controller implementation. To reach such an objective the following steps have to be addressed • experimental identification of the dynamic model of the flexible structure • sensors and actuators optimal placement • formulation of control constraint in terms of controller frequency response shape, based on specification and characteristics of sensors and actuators • controller design and simulation • controller implementation and rapid prototyping The experimental identification procedure is based on a gray-box approach tailored on the estimation of modal parameters of large scale flexible structures. The actuator/sensor placement algorithm maximized a modal controllability index so as to improve the effectiveness of the control action. Taking into account sensors and actuators physical limitations, the controller is chosen as a stable, band-pass MIMO system resulting from the closed-form solution of a robust control problem. The closed-form solution is particularly attractive for large scale control systems, overcoming possible numerical problems due to ill-conditioned solutions. Experimental results on an aeronautical stiffened skin panel are presented by using rapid-prototyping hardware.