Structural control of distributed parameter systems by output feedback

Most of the controller design in distributed parameter systems requires not only the measurement and/or estimation of distributed states, but also the feedback gain in a function of time and spatial coordinates. These requirements are difficult, if not impossible, to meet in engineering implementation. An output feedback algorithm for the structural control of distributed parameter systems is presented in this paper. The algorithm employs a solution technique to simplify the functional Riccati equation into a set of algebraic equations such that sensor and actuator can be applied at discrete, instead of distributed, locations in the structure systems. The control law does not require any model discretization thereby preventing the spillover associated with discrete parameter models. An example of a slewing beam system in distributed parameter model is employed to demonstrate that the bending vibration can be effectively suppressed by a control input at the hub together with a minimal set of output measurements. The performance of the controller is shown superior to that of discrete systems using modal truncation techniques.