Application of a periodic lattice filter for identifying flexible structures
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The model of the interaction of the noise from a spreading subsonic jet with a panel-stringer assembly is studied numerically in two dimensions. The radiation resulting from this flow/acoustic/structure coupling is computed and analyzed in both the time and frequency domains. The jet is initially excited by a pulse-like source inserted into the flow field. The pulse triggers instabilities associated with the inviscid instability of the jet mean flow shear layer. These instabilities in turn generate sound which provides the primary loading for the panels. The resulting structural vibration and radiation depends strongly on their placement relative to the jet/nozzle configuration. Results are obtained for the panel responses as well as the transmitted and incident pressure. The effect of the panels is to act as a narrow filter, converting the relatively broad band forcing, heavily influenced by jet instabilities, into radiation concentrated in narrow spectral bands.
This paper demonstrates an approach to frequency domain identification for the explicit purpose of designing robust H(infinity) controllers. The approach transforms raw experimental data into a plant set estimate directly usable by modern robust control design software(e.g., Matlab Robust Control Toolboxes [11][2]). A key issue in control design from raw data is the question of whether the controller will work when applied to the true system. The main feature fo this approach is that the resulting controller in guaranteed to work as designed(when applied to the true system) to a prescribed statistical confidence. While the overall methodology addresses key theoretical issues, it has at the same time been specifically designed to support practical implementations. A simulation example is included to demonstrate the overall approach.
This paper describes recent results in applying robust control techniques to achieve vibration suppression of an active precision truss structure.
An optimal alarm system and its approximations may use Kalman filtering for univariate linear dynamic systems driven by Gaussian noise to provide a layer of predictive capability. Predicted Kalman filter future process values and a fixed critical threshold can be used to construct a candidate level-crossing event over a predetermined prediction window. An optimal alarm system can be designed to elicit the fewest false alarms for a fixed detection probability in this particular scenario.
The Space Interferometry Mission’s System Testbed-3 has recently integrated its Precision Support Structure and spacecraft backpack (bus) on a pseudo-free-free 0.5 Hz passive isolation system. The Precision Support Structure holds a 3-baseline stellar interferometer instrument. The architecture of the instrument is based on the current Space Interferometry Mission flight system design, and its primary purpose is to demonstrate nanometer class fringe stabilization using the path length feed forward technique. This paper describes the overall instrument architecture, brief theory of operation, and preliminary measurements.
The paper describes experimental research in the are of active vibration isolation. The objective of the research is to quantitavely assess the performance gained by augmenting a passive isolator will an active stage.
The proposed research addresses all three focus areas, but primarily (2): Predictive modeling through the use of AI techniques and AI-derived model components; the use of AI and other tools to design a prediction system comprising of a hierarchy of models (e.g., AI driven model /component/ parameterization selection)
Among the design objectives for large space structures are the maintenance of tight dimensional tolerance and the reduction of settling time after disturbance input. Two options are under consideration for the design of flexible structures to meet these objectives, including an active control option and a passive control option. In connection with both options, it is necessary to include material and structural damping in the design. A description is presented of the results of an experimental investigation of the damping of metallic and fibrous composite materials, taking into account also the analytical modeling and experimental verification of frictional damping schemes. To demonstrate how material and frictional damping can be combined, a simple structural optimization is performed, indicating the potential for significant savings in mass by the addition of frictional dampers.
Large flexible aerospace structures, such as the solar power satellite, are distributed parameter systems with very complex continuum descriptions. This paper investigates the use of finite element methods to produce reduced-order models and finite dimensional feedback controllers for these structures. The main results give conditions under which stable control of the finite element model will produce stable control of the actual structure.
A flexible volumetric structure has a first spring that defines a three-dimensional volume and includes a serpentine structure elongatable and compressible along a length thereof. A second spring is coupled to at least one outboard edge region of the first spring. The second spring is a sheet-like structure capable of elongation along an in-plane dimension thereof. The second spring is oriented such that its in-plane dimension is aligned with the length of the first spring's serpentine structure.
An optimization-based integrated design approach for flexible space structures is experimentally validated using three types of dissipative controllers, including static, dynamic, and LQG dissipative controllers. The nominal phase-0 of the controls structure interaction evolutional model (CEM) structure is redesigned to minimize the average control power required to maintain specified root-mean-square line-of-sight pointing error under persistent disturbances. The redesign structure, phase-1 CEM, was assembled and tested against phase-0 CEM. It is analytically and experimentally demonstrated that integrated controls-structures design is substantially superior to that obtained through the traditional sequential approach. The capability of a software design tool based on an automated design procedure in a unified environment for structural and control designs is demonstrated.
An approach for an optimization-based integrated controls-structures design is presented for a class of flexible spacecraft that require fine attitude pointing and vibration suppression. The integrated design problem is posed in the form of simultaneous optimization of both structural and control design variables. The approach is demonstrated by application to the integrated design of a generic space platform and to a model of a ground-based flexible structure. The numerical results obtained indicate that the integrated design approach can yield spacecraft designs that have substantially superior performance over a conventional design wherein the structural and control designs are performed sequentially. For example, a 40-percent reduction in the pointing error is observed along with a slight reduction in mass, or an almost twofold increase in the controlled performance is indicated with more than a 5-percent reduction in the overall mass of the spacecraft (a reduction of hundreds of kilograms).
Future solar sail missions, such as NASA's Solar Polar Imager Vision, will require sails with dimensions on the order of 50-500 m. We are examining a square sail design with moving mass (trim control mass, TCM) and quadrant rotation primary actuators plus pulsed plasma thrusters (PPTs) at the mast tips for backup attitude control. Quadrant rotation is achieved via roll stabilizer bars (RSB) at the mast tips. At these sizes, given the gossamer nature of the sail supporting structures, flexible modes may be low enough to interact with the control system, especially as these actuators are located on the flexible structure itself and not on the rigid core. This paper develops a practical analysis of the flexible interactions using state-space systems and modal data from finite element models of the system. Torsion and bending of the masts during maneuvers could significantly affect the function of the actuators while activation of the membrane modes could adversely affect the thrust vector direction and magnitude. Analysis of the RSB and TCM dynamics for developing high-fidelity simulations is included. For control analysis of the flexible system, standard finite-element models of the flexible sail body are loaded and the modal data is used to create a modal coordinate state-space system. Key parameters include which modes to include, which nodes are of interest for force inputs and displacement outputs, connecting nodes through which external forces and torques are applied from the flex body to the core, any nominal momentum in the system, and any steady rates. The system is linearized about the nominal attitude and rate. The state-space plant can then be analyzed with a state-space controller, and Bode, Nyquist, step and impulse responses generated. The approach is general for any rigid core with a flexible appendage. This paper develops a compensator for a simple two-mass flex system and extrapolates the results to the solar sail. A finite element model of the 20 m solar sail by ATK Space Systems, recently validated in ground tests, is used to demonstrate the sail analysis approach.
A control system utilizing the Multi-mission Modular Spacecraft (MMS) Attitude Control System (ACS) was developed and analyzed for the Space Infrared Telescope Facility (SIRTF) spacecraft. Alternative torquer augmentation schemes were studied to determine viable ACS approaches. A control law was developed to use a dual set of single-axis Control Moment Gyros (CMGs) for two-axis control. Flexible structural models were developed using a high fidelity, flight tested NASTRAN model of the MMS, coupled with a NASTRAN model of the SIRTF telescope. Modal significance criteria were employed to reduce the structural model. Multivariable interactive techniques were used to synthesize the control system (including the structural filters). Control system performance for the SIRTF operational modes (quiescent inertial hold, slewing, nodding, and rastering) was then determined using both single-axis and three-axis simulations). The control system described met performance requirements for all modes but the raster with the use of CMGs. The raster performance was limited by the structural flexibility.
Large, flexible orbiting systems proposed for possible use in communications, electronic orbital based mail systems, and solar energy collection are discussed. The size and low weight to area ratio of such systems indicate that system flexibility is now the main consideration in the dynamics and control problem. For such large, flexible systems, both orientation and surface shape control will often be required. A conceptual development plan of a system software capability for use in analysis of the dynamics and control of large space structures technology (LSST) systems is discussed. This concept can be subdivided into four different stages: (1) system dynamics; (2) structural dynamics; (3) application of control algorithms; and (4) simulation of environmental disturbances. Modeling the system dynamics of such systems in orbit is the most fundamental component. Solar radiation pressure effects and orbital and gravity gradient effects are discussed.
Spacecraft are susceptible to structural damage over their operating life from impact, environmental loads, and fatigue. Structural damage that is not detected and not corrected may potentially cause more damage and eventually catastrophic structural failure. NASA's current fleet of reusable spacecraft, namely the Space Shuttle, has been flown on several missions. In addition, configurations of future NASA space structures, e.g. Space Station Freedom, are larger and more complex than current structures, making them more susceptible to damage as well as being more difficult to inspect. Consequently, a reliable structural damage detection capability is essential to maintain the flight safety of these structures. Visual inspections alone can not locate impending material failure (fatigue cracks, yielding); it can only observe post-failure situations. An alternative approach is to develop an inspection and monitoring system based on vibration characterization that assesses the integrity of structural and mechanical components. A methodology for detecting structural damage is presented. This methodology is based on utilizing modal test data in conjunction with a correlated analytical model of the structure to: (1) identify the structural dynamic characteristics (resonant frequencies and mode shapes) from measurements of ambient motions and/or force excitation; (2) calculate modal residual force vectors to identify the location of structural damage; and (3) conduct a weighted sensitivity analysis in order to assess the extent of mass and stiffness variations, where structural damage is characterized by stiffness reductions. The approach is unique from other existing approaches in that varying system mass and stiffness, mass center locations, the perturbation of both the natural frequencies and mode shapes, and statistical confidence factors for structural parameters and experimental instrumentation are all accounted for directly.
A new methodology has been developed for the dynamic analysis of flexible structures, parts of which may be experiencing discrete motion relative to other parts. This methodology provides the capability of representing the continuum deformations typically treated using finite element methods. In addition, it provides the capability of representing the discrete motion at joints traditionally available with multibody methods. After decomposing the structure into substructures and associating a frame of reference with each substructure, the equations of motion for each substructure can be written explicitly including contributions due to the frame of reference generalized coordinates. By expanding the set of constraints to include constraints that eliminate the redundancy introduced by the frame generalized coordinates, the equations of motion become amenable to solution. The first digital computer program using this methodology, the General Rotorcraft Aeromechanical Stability Program (GRASP), was introduced in 1986. Although GRASP is limited to applications involving steady-state rotation, extension to arbitrary motions (including spin-up) can be accomplished by the selective retention of nonlinear terms in this formulation.