Simultaneous composite tailoring and bending control optimization for damping the torsional vibration of a plate

This study developed a method for the simultaneous structural and control optimization for torsional vibration of a composite plate which simulates a spacecraft solar array structure. Included in the optimization of the plate are the locations of the piezoceramic actuators and sensors that provide bending/torsion actuation, the control gains, and the orientation of the graphite fibers in the composite plies. This research included the effects of using composite tailoring to promote the coupling of the twisting-bending mode to enhance the damping system. The plate was modeled by classical lamination plate theory using a linear elastic strain displacement theory. This theory was then incorporated into a control/structure performance index that minimizes torsional and bending motion at the tip of the plate due to a torsional force at the tip. A comparison was made between the results of this theory and the experimental results of the optimized plate and a baseline plate