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Spanos, John

Publications and source records attributed to Spanos, John.

Two Mathematical Models of Nonlinear Vibrations

Two innovative mathematical models of nonlinear vibrations, and methods of applying them, have been conceived as byproducts of an effort to develop a Kalman filter for highly precise estimation of bending motions of a large truss structure deployed in outer space from a space-shuttle payload bay. These models are also applicable to modeling and analysis of vibrations in other engineering disciplines, on Earth as well as in outer space.

Brugarolas, Paul↗

Active Narrow-Band Vibration Isolation of Large Engineering Structures

We present a narrow-band tracking control method using a variant of the Least Mean Squares (LMS) algorithm to isolate slowly changing periodic disturbances from engineering structures. The advantage of the algorithm is that it has a simple architecture and is relatively easy to implement while it can isolate disturbances on the order of 40-50 dB over decades of frequency band. We also present the results of an experiment conducted on a flexible truss structure. The average disturbance rejection achieved is over 40 dB over the frequency band of 5 Hz to 50 Hz.

algorithm engineering structures noise vibration↗

Active damping with a reaction mass actuator

This paper presents analytical and experimental results in actively damping flexible structures with reaction mass actuators. A two degree of freedom spring-mass model of a flexible structure is analyzed and the key parameters of actuator mass participation and pole-zero separation are related to the maximum damping achievable from rate feedback control. The main conclusion of the paper is that the larger the pole-zero separation the larger the amount of damping that can be imparted to a structural mode. Laboratory experiments conducted on an 8-foot truss structure support the analytical predictions.

Spanos, John↗