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At least 181 records · Page 10

Modifying high-order aeroelastic math model of a jet transport using maximum likelihood estimation

The design of control laws to damp flexible structural modes requires accurate math models. Unlike the design of control laws for rigid body motion (e.g., where robust control is used to compensate for modeling inaccuracies), structural mode damping usually employs narrow band notch filters. In order to obtain the required accuracy in the math model, maximum likelihood estimation technique is employed to improve the accuracy of the math model using flight data. Presented here are all phases of this methodology: (1) pre-flight analysis (i.e., optimal input signal design for flight test, sensor location determination, model reduction technique, etc.), (2) data collection and preprocessing, and (3) post-flight analysis (i.e., estimation technique and model verification). In addition, a discussion is presented of the software tools used and the need for future study in this field.

Anissipour, Amir A.↗

RMS active damping augmentation

The topics are presented in viewgraph form and include: RMS active damping augmentation; potential space station assembly benefits to CSI; LaRC/JSC bridge program; control law design process; draper RMS simulator; MIMO acceleration control laws improve damping; potential load reduction benefit; DRS modified to model distributed accelerations; accelerometer location; Space Shuttle aft cockpit simulator; simulated shuttle video displays; SES test goals and objectives; and SES modifications to support RMS active damping augmentation.

Michael G Gilbert↗

An Examination of Handling Qualities Criteria for V/STOL Aircraft

A study has been undertaken to define hand-ling qualities criteria for V/STOL aircraft. With the current military requirements for helicopters and airplanes as a framework, modifications and additions were made for conversion to a preliminary set of V/STOL requirements using a broad background of flight experience and pilots' comments from VTOL and STOL aircraft, BLC (boundary-layer-control) equipped aircraft, variable stability aircraft, flight simulators and landing approach studies. The report contains a discussion of the reasoning behind and the sources of information leading to suggested requirements. The results of the study indicate that the majority of V/STOL requirements can be defined by modifications to the helicopter and/or airplane requirements by appropriate definition of reference speeds. Areas where a requirement is included but where the information is felt to be inadequate to establish a firm quantitative requirement include the following: Control power and damping relationships about all axes for various sizes and types of aircraft; control power, sensitivity, d-amping and response for height control; dynamic longitudinal and dynamic lateral- directional stability in the transition region, including emergency operation; hovering steadiness; acceleration and deceleration in transition; descent rates and flight-path angles in steep approaches, and thrust margin for approach.

Anderson, Seth B.↗

Further Flight Tests on the Effectiveness of Handley Page Automatic Control Slots

Investigation of damping in roll within range of maximum lift with the Albatross L 75, with and without Handley Page automatic control slots, revealed the following: Without control slots, any attempt to go beyond a certain angle of attack near c(sub a max) in glide and climb, is followed by sudden sideslip. The conduct of the airplane throughout the motions in roll, moreover, confirmed that all attempts to higher angles of attack are accompanied by sudden loss of damping in roll.

Pleines, Wilhelm↗

Algorithm development for the control design of flexible structures

The critical problems associated with the control of highly damped flexible structures are outlined. The practical problems include: high performance; assembly in space, configuration changes; on-line controller software design; and lack of test data. Underlying all of these problems is the central problem of modeling errors. To justify the expense of a space structure, the performance requirements will necessarily be very severe. On the other hand, the absence of economical tests precludes the availability of reliable data before flight. A design algorithm is offered which: (1) provides damping for a larger number of modes than the optimal attitude controller controls; (2) coordinates the rate of feedback design with the attitude control design by use of a similar cost function; and (3) provides model reduction and controller reduction decisions which are systematically connected to the mathematical statement of the control objectives and the disturbance models.

Skelton, R. E.↗

An electroviscous damper

A new type of vibration damper for rotor systems was developed and tested. The damper contains electroviscous fluid which solidifies and provides Coulomb damping when an electric voltage is imposed across the fluid. The damping capacity is controlled by the voltage. The damper was incorporated in a flexible rotor system and found to be able to damp out high levels of unbalanced excitation. Other proven advantages include controllability, simplicity, and no requirement for oil supply. Still unconfirmed are the capabilities to eliminate critical speeds and to suppress rotor instabilities.

Nikolajsen, Jorgen L.↗

Stabilization of a Swept-Wing Boundary Layer by Discrete Roughness Elements at High Reynolds Numbers

Direct numerical simulations (DNS) are performed to study potential stabilizing ef- fect of spanwise periodic discrete roughness elements (DREs) on cross ow instabilities in a spatially developing three-dimensional boundary layer over an in nite-swept natural- laminar- ow wing at a freestream Mach number of 0:75 and a chord Reynolds number of approximately 25 million. In the DNS, both the spanwise periodic DREs and distributed roughness in the leading-edge region are implemented to simulate a typical experimen- tal scenario in which multiple steady cross ow modes including the most unstable mode (i.e., the \target" mode) emerge because of the presence of naturally distributed surface roughness in the leading edge region and spanwise periodic control cylinders of subcritical wavelength are used to force small-wavelength disturbances (i.e., the control mode) for damping the target mode. The DNS results show that the e ectiveness of DRE control is sensitive to roughness diameter, height, and chordwise placement. For the DRE parame- ters considered in this study, the stabilizing e ect on the target mode is small within the computational domain that ended at about 35% of the chord.

Nicholson, Gary↗

Design, analysis, and testing of high frequency passively damped struts

Objectives of the research are: (1) to develop design requirements for damped struts to stabilize control system in the high frequency cross-over and spill-over range; (2) to design, fabricate and test viscously damped strut and viscoelastically damped strut; (3) to verify accuracy of design and analysis methodology of damped struts; and (4) to design and build test apparatus, and develop data reduction algorithm to measure strut complex stiffness. In order to meet the stringent performance requirements of the SPICE experiment, the active control system is used to suppress the dynamic responses of the low order structural modes. However, the control system also inadvertently drives some of the higher order modes unstable in the cross-over and spill-over frequency range. Passive damping is a reliable and effective way to provide damping to stabilize the control system. It also improves the robustness of the control system. Damping is designed into the SPICE testbed as an integral part of the control-structure technology.

Yiu, Y. C.↗

Optical interferometer testbed

Viewgraphs on optical interferometer testbed presented at the MIT Space Research Engineering Center 3rd Annual Symposium are included. Topics covered include: space-based optical interferometer; optical metrology; sensors and actuators; real time control hardware; controlled structures technology (CST) design methodology; identification for MIMO control; FEM/ID correlation for the naked truss; disturbance modeling; disturbance source implementation; structure design: passive damping; low authority control; active isolation of lightweight mirrors on flexible structures; open loop transfer function of mirror; and global/high authority control.

Blackwood, Gary H.↗

Optimization of the structural and control system for LSS with reduced-order model

The objective is the simultaneous design of the structural and control system for space structures. The minimum weight of the structure is the objective function, and the constraints are placed on the closed loop distribution of the frequencies and the damping parameters. The controls approach used is linear quadratic regulator with constant feedback. A reduced-order control system is used. The effect of uncontrolled modes is taken into consideration by the model error sensitivity suppression (MESS) technique which modified the weighting parameters for the control forces. For illustration, an ACOSS-FOUR structure is designed for a different number of controlled modes with specified values for the closed loop damping parameters and frequencies. The dynamic response of the optimum designs for an initial disturbance is compared.

Khot, N. S.↗

Integrated active and passive control design methodology for the LaRC CSI evolutionary model

A general design methodology to integrate active control with passive damping was demonstrated on the NASA LaRC CSI Evolutionary Model (CEM), a ground testbed for future large, flexible spacecraft. Vibration suppression controllers designed for Line-of Sight (LOS) minimization were successfully implemented on the CEM. A frequency-shaped H2 methodology was developed, allowing the designer to specify the roll-off of the MIMO compensator. A closed loop bandwidth of 4 Hz, including the six rigid body modes and the first three dominant elastic modes of the CEM was achieved. Good agreement was demonstrated between experimental data and analytical predictions for the closed loop frequency response and random tests. Using the Modal Strain Energy (MSE) method, a passive damping treatment consisting of 60 viscoelastically damped struts was designed, fabricated and implemented on the CEM. Damping levels for the targeted modes were more than an order of magnitude larger than for the undamped structure. Using measured loss and stiffness data for the individual damped struts, analytical predictions of the damping levels were very close to the experimental values in the (1-10) Hz frequency range where the open loop model matched the experimental data. An integrated active/passive controller was successfully implemented on the CEM and was evaluated against an active-only controller. A two-fold increase in the effective control bandwidth and further reductions of 30 percent to 50 percent in the LOS RMS outputs were achieved compared to an active-only controller. Superior performance was also obtained compared to a High-Authority/Low-Authority (HAC/LAC) controller.

Voth, Christopher T.↗

Progress in adaptive control of flexible spacecraft using lattice filters

This paper reviews the use of the least square lattice filter in adaptive control systems. Lattice filters have been used primarily in speech and signal processing, but they have utility in adaptive control because of their order-recursive nature. They are especially useful in dealing with structural dynamics systems wherein the order of a controller required to damp a vibration is variable depending on the number of modes significantly excited. Applications are presented for adaptive control of a flexible beam. Also, difficulties in the practical implementation of the lattice filter in adaptive control are discussed.

Sundararajan, N.↗

Evaluation of a stall-flutter spring-damper pushrod in the rotating control system of a CH-54B helicopter

Results of a design and flight test program conducted to define the effect of rotating pushrod damping on stall-flutter induced control loads are presented. The CH-54B helicopter was chosen as the test aircraft because it exhibited stall induced control loads. Damping was introduced into the CH-54B control system by replacing the standard pushrod with spring-damper assemblies. Design features of the spring-damper are described and the results of a dynamic analysis are shown which define the pushrod stiffness and damping requirements. Flight test measurements taken at 47,000 lb gross weight with and without the damper are presented. The results indicate that the spring-damper pushrods reduced high frequency, stall-induced rotating control loads by almost 50%. Fixed system control loads were reduced by 40%. Handling qualities in stall were unchanged, as expected.

Nettles, W. E.↗

Robustness of velocity feedback controllers for flexible spacecraft

The robustness properties of collocated velocity feedback controllers used for damping enhancement in large, flexible space structures are investigated. It is proved that the closed-loop system using such controllers is asymptotically stable in the large when: (1) unmodeled linear time-invariant dynamics (such as sensors/actuators) are present, provided that the phase angle of such dynamics is between -90 deg and 90 deg; (2) time-varying or invariant nonlinearities lying in the first and the third quadrant (i.e., belonging to the /0, infinity/ sector) are present; or (3) sector-type nonlinearities following first-order stable dynamics are present in the feedback loop.

Joshi, S. M.↗

Low-authority control synthesis for large space structures

The control of vibrations of large space structures by distributed sensors and actuators is studied. A procedure is developed for calculating the feedback loop gains required to achieve specified amounts of damping. For moderate damping (Low Authority Control) the procedure is purely algebraic, but it can be applied iteratively when larger amounts of damping are required and is generalized for arbitrary time invariant systems.

Aubrun, J. N.↗