Engineering Papers⌕ Search

SEARCH · Engineering Papers

Results for “Flexible Structures”

Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 19 records
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1989

Flexible structure control experiments using a real-time workstation for computer-aided control engineering

A Real-Time Workstation for Computer-Aided Control Engineering has been developed jointly by the Communications Research Centre (CRC) and Ruhr-Universitaet Bochum (RUB), West Germany. The system is presently used for the development and experimental verification of control techniques for large space systems with significant structural flexibility. The Real-Time Workstation essentially is an implementation of RUB's extensive Computer-Aided Control Engineering package KEDDC on an INTEL micro-computer running under the RMS real-time operating system. The portable system supports system identification, analysis, control design and simulation, as well as the immediate implementation and test of control systems. The Real-Time Workstation is currently being used by CRC to study control/structure interaction on a ground-based structure called DAISY, whose design was inspired by a reflector antenna. DAISY emulates the dynamics of a large flexible spacecraft with the following characteristics: rigid body modes, many clustered vibration modes with low frequencies and extremely low damping. The Real-Time Workstation was found to be a very powerful tool for experimental studies, supporting control design and simulation, and conducting and evaluating tests withn one integrated environment.

Stieber, Michael E.↗
NASA NTRS1990

Adaptive-Control Experiments On A Large Flexible Structure

Antennalike flexible structure built for research in advanced technology including suppression of vibrations and control of initial deflections. Structure instrumented with sensors and actuators connected to digital electronic control system, programmed with control algorithms to be tested. Particular attention in this research focused on direct model-reference adaptive-control algorithm based on command generator tracker theory. Built to exhibit multiple vibrational modes, low modal frequencies, and low structural damping. Made three-dimensional so complicated interactions among components of structure and control system investigated.

Ih, Che-Hang C.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Experimental demonstration of the control of flexible structures

The Large Space Structure Technology Flexible Beam Experiment employs a pinned-free flexible beam to demonstrate such required methods as dynamic and adaptive control, as well as various control law design approaches and hardware requirements. An attempt is made to define the mechanization difficulties that may inhere in flexible structures. Attention is presently given to analytical work performed in support of the test facility's development, the final design's specifications, the control laws' synthesis, and experimental results obtained.

Schaechter, D. B.↗
NASA NTRS1987

Structural Dynamics and Control Interaction of Flexible Structures

A workshop on structural dynamics and control interaction of flexible structures was held to promote technical exchange between the structural dynamics and control disciplines, foster joint technology, and provide a forum for discussing and focusing critical issues in the separate and combined areas. Issues and areas of emphasis were identified in structure-control interaction for the next generation of flexible systems.

Ryan, Robert S.↗
NASA NTRS1989

Frequency response modeling and control of flexible structures: Computational methods

The dynamics of vibrations in flexible structures can be conventiently modeled in terms of frequency response models. For structural control such models capture the distributed parameter dynamics of the elastic structural response as an irrational transfer function. For most flexible structures arising in aerospace applications the irrational transfer functions which arise are of a special class of pseudo-meromorphic functions which have only a finite number of right half place poles. Computational algorithms are demonstrated for design of multiloop control laws for such models based on optimal Wiener-Hopf control of the frequency responses. The algorithms employ a sampled-data representation of irrational transfer functions which is particularly attractive for numerical computation. One key algorithm for the solution of the optimal control problem is the spectral factorization of an irrational transfer function. The basis for the spectral factorization algorithm is highlighted together with associated computational issues arising in optimal regulator design. Options for implementation of wide band vibration control for flexible structures based on the sampled-data frequency response models is also highlighted. A simple flexible structure control example is considered to demonstrate the combined frequency response modeling and control algorithms.

Bennett, William H.↗
NASA NTRS1990

Experimental demonstration of active vibration control for flexible structures

Active vibration control of flexible structures for future space missions is addressed. Three experiments that successfully demonstrate control of flexible structures are described. The first is the pendulum experiment. The structure is a 5-m compound pendulum and was designed as an end-to-end test bed for a linear proof mass actuator and its supporting electronics. Experimental results are shown for a maximum-entropy/optimal-projection controller designed to achieve 5 percent damping in the first two pendulum modes. The second experiment was based upon the Harris Multi-Hex prototype experiment (MHPE) apparatus. This is a large optical reflector structure comprising a seven-panel array and supporting truss which typifies a number of generic characteristics of large space systems. The third experiment involved control design and implementation for the ACES structure at NASA Marshall Space Flight Center. The authors conclude with some remarks on the lessons learned from conducting these experiments.

Phillips, Douglas J.↗
NASA NTRS2010

Adaptive Control of Flexible Structures Using Residual Mode Filters

Flexible structures containing a large number of modes can benefit from adaptive control techniques which are well suited to applications that have unknown modeling parameters and poorly known operating conditions. In this paper, we focus on a direct adaptive control approach that has been extended to handle adaptive rejection of persistent disturbances. We extend our adaptive control theory to accommodate troublesome modal subsystems of a plant that might inhibit the adaptive controller. In some cases the plant does not satisfy the requirements of Almost Strict Positive Realness. Instead, there maybe be a modal subsystem that inhibits this property. This section will present new results for our adaptive control theory. We will modify the adaptive controller with a Residual Mode Filter (RMF) to compensate for the troublesome modal subsystem, or the Q modes. Here we present the theory for adaptive controllers modified by RMFs, with attention to the issue of disturbances propagating through the Q modes. We apply the theoretical results to a flexible structure example to illustrate the behavior with and without the residual mode filter. We have proposed a modified adaptive controller with a residual mode filter. The RMF is used to accommodate troublesome modes in the system that might otherwise inhibit the adaptive controller, in particular the ASPR condition. This new theory accounts for leakage of the disturbance term into the Q modes. A simple three-mode example shows that the RMF can restore stability to an otherwise unstable adaptively controlled system. This is done without modifying the adaptive controller design.

Balas, Mark J.↗
NASA NTRS1989

Controlling flexible structures: A survey of methods

Most of the presently available control system design techniques applicable to flexible structure problems were developed to design controllers for rigid body systems. Although many of these design methods can be applied to flexible dynamics problems, recently developed techniques may be more suitable for flexible structure controller design. The purpose of this presentation is to examine briefly the peculiarities of the dynamics of flexible structures and to stimulate discussion about top level controller design approaches when designing controllers for flexible structures. Presented here is a suggestion of a set of categories of design methods for designing controllers for flexible structures as well as a discussion of the advantages and disadvantages of each category. No attempt has been made herein to select one category of design techniques as the best for flexible structure controller design. Instead, it is hoped that the structure suggested by these categories will facilitate further discussion on the merits of particular methods that will eventually point to those design techniques suitable for further development.

Benson, Russell A.↗
NASA NTRS1984

The effects of the space environment on damping materials and damping designs on flexible structures

The effects of space environments on damping materials and damping designs on flexible structures were investigated. The following items were examined: damping of flexible spacecraft appendages; composite loss factor (n sub s) vs. time in high vacuum for damped test beams and damping of flexible structures. The STEP experiments show inherent damping of flexible structures in space effective possible damping design configurations for space structures, effects of passively damped components on the system loss factor of flexible structures and the effect of space environment on properties of damping materials.

Kluesener, M. F.↗
NASA NTRS1992

Distributed digital signal processors for multi-body flexible structures

Multi-body flexible structures, such as those currently under investigation in spacecraft design, are large scale (high-order) dimensional systems. Controlling and filtering such structures is a computationally complex problem. This is particularly important when many sensors and actuators are located along the structure and need to be processed in real time. This report summarizes research activity focused on solving the signal processing (that is, information processing) issues of multi-body structures. A distributed architecture is developed in which single loop processors are employed for local filtering and control. By implementing such a philosophy with an embedded controller configuration, a supervising controller may be used to process global data and make global decisions as the local devices are processing local information. A hardware testbed, a position controller system for a servo motor, is employed to illustrate the capabilities of the embedded controller structure. Several filtering and control structures which can be modeled as rational functions can be implemented on the system developed in this research effort. Thus the results of the study provide a support tool for many Control/Structure Interaction (CSI) NASA testbeds such as the Evolutionary model and the nine-bay truss structure.

Lee, Gordon K. F.↗
NASA NTRS1989

Simulation of flexible structures with impact: Experimental validation

The simulation of the dynamic behavior of flexible structures with impact, is experimentally and numerically investigated. A radially rotating flexible beam attached to a rigid shaft is considered. Both experimental and numerical studies are undertaken. Experimental studies how excellent agreement with simulation studies using both the momentum balance (coefficient of friction), and spring-dashpot (impact pair) models. The simulation studies are even capable of predicting the high-speed multiple impacts which occur due to structural flexibility and which are experimentally observed using high-speed video photography. The results of the studies show that a simple momentum balance (coefficient of restitution) method for simulating the impact is sufficiently accurate in predicting the dynamic behavior of the system for most engineering applications. The momentum balance method cannot simulate the impact force which develops during the contact duration, but is computationally very efficient. The spring-dashpot model is more difficult to develop and requires significantly larger computation time, but can simulate impact forces and stresses due to impact. The momentum balance (coefficient of restitution) method, although strictly not applicable to flexible bodies, has been shown to provide an accurate and computationally efficient method for simulating the dynamic behavior of flexible structures with impact when contact stresses are not needed.

Ulsoy, A. Galip↗
NASA NTRS1989

Controlling flexible structures with second order actuator dynamics

The control of flexible structures for those systems with actuators that are modeled by second order dynamics is examined. Two modeling approaches are investigated. First a stability and performance analysis is performed using a low order finite dimensional model of the structure. Secondly, a continuum model of the flexible structure to be controlled, coupled with lumped parameter second order dynamic models of the actuators performing the control is used. This model is appropriate in the modeling of the control of a flexible panel by proof-mass actuators as well as other beam, plate and shell like structural numbers. The model is verified with experimental measurements.

Inman, Daniel J.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Control of Flexible Structures (COFS) Flight Experiment Program

The Control of Flexible Structures (COFS) Flight Experiment Program consists of a series of four Shuttle-attached experiments specifically designed to systematically evaluate algorithms and techniques for on-orbit systems identification and flexible body control of large flexible structures, and as such, develops the enabling technologies for future NASA missions such as the evolutionary Space Station and large orbital antennas. These flight experiments are conducted on 1-year centers starting in 1989. This paper presents a description of the test article for the first two flights (COFS-I) and a discussion of the strategy for conducting the various experiments. A guest investigator program provides the opportunity for the research community to participate in the structures/controls research associated with the multi-flight COFS Program.

Fontana, A.↗
NASA NTRS1985

An adaptive learning control system for large flexible structures

The objective of the research has been to study the design of adaptive/learning control systems for the control of large flexible structures. In the first activity an adaptive/learning control methodology for flexible space structures was investigated. The approach was based on using a modal model of the flexible structure dynamics and an output-error identification scheme to identify modal parameters. In the second activity, a least-squares identification scheme was proposed for estimating both modal parameters and modal-to-actuator and modal-to-sensor shape functions. The technique was applied to experimental data obtained from the NASA Langley beam experiment. In the third activity, a separable nonlinear least-squares approach was developed for estimating the number of excited modes, shape functions, modal parameters, and modal amplitude and velocity time functions for a flexible structure. In the final research activity, a dual-adaptive control strategy was developed for regulating the modal dynamics and identifying modal parameters of a flexible structure. A min-max approach was used for finding an input to provide modal parameter identification while not exceeding reasonable bounds on modal displacement.

Thau, F. E.↗
NASA NTRS1996

Robust Stabilizing Compensators for Flexible Structures with Collocated Controls

For flexible structures with collocated rate and attitude sensors/actuators, we characterize compensator transfer functions which guarantee modal stability even when stiffness/inertia parameters are uncertain. While the compensators are finite-dimensional, the structure models are allowed to be infinite-dimensional (continuum models), with attendant complexity of the notion of stability; thus exponential stability is not possible and the best we can obtain is strong stability. Robustness is interpreted essentially as maintaining stability in the worst case. The conditions require that the compensator transfer functions be positive real and use is made of the Kalman-Yakubovic lemma to characterize them further. The concept of positive realness is shown to be equivalent to dissipativity in infinite dimensions. In particular we show that for a subclass of compensators it is possible to make the system strongly stable as well as dissipative in an appropriate energy norm.

Balakrishman, A. V.↗