A new method for simultaneous structural/control optimization (Q803529)

The authors present a method for the optimization of both the structural parameters and of the time invariant control gains in a dynamical system. The optimization process is concurrent for both the parameters and the gains. More explicitly the control gains are written as explicit functions of the response and are included in the state equation. They are then directly embedded into the augmented performance criterion. Then the variations are obtained with respect to all of the design variables (state, co-state, structural parameters and position and rate static feedback control gains), to generate the governing equations for the system. A computer code in FORTRAN is generated to solve the resulting equations and at the same time solve for the optimal control gains and structural parametes. The method is checked via simulations in the control of transverse vibrations of a cantilevered beam.