Eric H. Anderson

Detailed Models of Piezoceramic Actuation of Beams

In this paper, techniques for modeling induced strain actuation of beam-like components of intelligent structures are developed. Two analytical models and one numer ical model describing the detailed mechanics of induced strain actuators bonded to and embedded in one-dimensional structures are presented. The models illustrate the exten sion, bending, and localized shearing deformations induced. The range of parameters for which the simpler analytic models are valid is also established. The specific characteris tics of one type of induced strain actuator, piezoceramic materials, are discussed, and im plications for practical use of piezoceramic actuators are outlined. Experimental results are used to validate the beam actuation models presented.

Self-sensing piezoelectric actuation - Analysis and application to controlled structures

Issues related to modeling and implementation of a self-sensing piezoelectric actuator are investigated. The necessary formulation for modeling the simultaneous sensing and actuation phenomenon is provided. Open and closed loop experiments performed on a cantilevered beam test specimen are described. The sensitivity of the results to representative errors introduced in the implementation of the transducer is demonstrated analytically and experimentally. The self-sensing actuator is also implemented using an active piezoelectric strut in a truss structure.

Simultaneous sensing and actuation using piezoelectric materials

The possibility of using a single piezoelectric element simultaneously as both a structural actuator and collocated sensor is investigated. The coupled actuator and sensor equations for an arbitrary elastic structure with piezoelectric elements are developed using an assumed modes energy method. Examination of these equations suggests a simple implementation of collocated strain or strain rate sensing using a voltage driven piezoelectric element. The properties of such a collocated strain or strain rate sensor are presented. The general equations are applied to the case of a cantilevered beam with surface mounted piezoceramics. The theoretical derivations are validated experimentally on an actively controlled cantilevered beam test article with a single piezoelectric element used for collocated strain rate feedback.

Development of an active truss element for control of precision structures

An active structural element for use in precision control of large space structures is described. The active member is intended to replace a passive strut in a truss-like structure. It incorporates an eddy current displacement sensor and an actuator that is either piezoelectric (PZT) or electrostrictive (PMN). The design of the device is summarized. Performance of separate PZT and PMN actuators is compared for several properties relevant to submicrometer control of precision structures.

Active suppression-of acoustically induced jitter for the airborne laser

The Airborne Laser (ABL) system has extremely tight jitter requirements. Acoustic disturbances, such as those caused by the pressure recovery system of the high power laser, are a significant jitter source. Several technologies may be appropriate for reducing the acoustically induced jitter. The first choice for mitigation will be passive approaches, such as acoustic blankets. There is, however, some uncertainty whether these approaches will provide sufficient attenuation and there is concern about the weight of these approaches. A testbed that captured the fundamental physics of the ABL acoustically induced optical jitter problem was developed. This testbed consists of a flexure-mounted mirror exposed to an acoustic field that is generated outside a beam tube and then propagates within the tube. Both feedback and adaptive feedforward control topologies were implemented on the testbed using either of two actuators (a fast steering mirror and a secondary acoustic speaker located near the precision mirror), and a variety of sensors (microphones measuring the acoustic disturbance, accelerometers and microphones mounted on the precision optic, and an optical position sensing detector). This paper summarizes the results from these control topologies for reducing the acoustically induced jitter with some control topologies achieving in excess of 40 dB jitter reduction at a single frequency. This work was performed under an SBIR Phase I funded by the Air Force Research Laboratory Space Vehicles Directorate.

Active structures for use in precision control of large optical systems

This paper discusses the application of active structures technology to the control of precision structures for future space-based astrophysics observatories. The state of the art in active structures is reviewed, and technology developments applicable to large optical systems are discussed.

Cryocooler disturbance reduction with single and multiple axis active/passive vibration control systems

Cryocoolers are well known sources of harmonic disturbance forces. In this paper two miniaturized, add-on, vacuum compatible, active vibration control systems for cryocoolers are discussed. The first, called VIS6, is an active/passive isolation hexapod and has control authority in all six degrees of freedom. This capability is desirable when reduction of all cryocooler disturbance loads, including the radial loads, is required. Each of the six identical hexapod struts consists of a miniature moving coil electromagnetic proof mass actuator, custom piezoelectric wafer load cell, viscoelastic passive isolation stage, and axial end flexures. The first five disturbance tones are reduced over a bandwidth of 250 Hz using a filtered-x least mean square algorithm. Load reductions of 30 - 40 dB were measured both axially and radially. The second system, called VRS1, is a pure active control system designed to reduce axial expander head disturbance loads. It works on the basis of a counter-force developed from an electromagnetic proof mass actuator. Error signals are provided from a commercial accelerometer to a standalone digital signal processor, on which a filtered-x least means square control algorithm is implemented. Over the 500 Hz control bandwidth, the 11 disturbance tones were reduced on between 14 to 40 dB.

Satellite Ultraquiet Isolation Technology Experiment (SUITE): Electromechanical Subsystems

Spacecraft carry instruments and sensors that gather information from distant points, for example, from the Earths surface several hundred kilometers away. Small vibrations on the spacecraft can reduce instrument effectiveness significantly. Vibration isolation system are one means of minimizing the jitter of sensitive instruments. This paper describes one such system, the Satellite Ultraquiet Isolation Technology Experiment (SUITE). SUITE is a piezoelectric-based technology demonstration scheduled to fly in 2000 on PICOSat, a microsatellite fabricated by Surrey Satellite Technology, Ltd. Control from the ground station is planned for the first year after launch. SUITE draws on technology from previous research programs as well as a commercial piezoelectric vibration isolation system. The paper details the features of SUITE, with particular emphasis on the active hexapod assembly. A description of the PICOSat spacecraft and the other considerations preceding the development of the flight hardware begins the paper. Experimental goals are listed. The mechanical and electromechanical construction of the SUITE hexapod assembly is described, including the piezoelectric actuators, motion sensors, and electromagnetic actuators. The data control system is also described briefly, including the digital signal processor and spacecraft communication. The main features of the software used for real-time control and the supporting Matlab software used for control system development and data processing are summarized.

Passive damping by smart materials: analysis and practical limitations

This paper examines the use of smart materials for passive damping. Among the smart materials considered are electrorheological and magnetorheological (ER and MR) fluids, piezoelectrics, electrostrictives, magnetostrictives, and shape memory alloys. The specific mechanism exploited for energy dissipation by passive or semi-passive means is described for each material. A distinction is made between internal and external energy dissipation. The external stimuli required for each of the semi-passive mechanisms are noted. Selected examples of damping results with each material are provided. Practical limitations for engineering design and implementation are considered, and recommendations are made for the more promising materials.

A comparison of vibration damping methods for ground based telescopes

Vibration is becoming a more important element in design of telescope structures as these structures become larger and more compliant and include higher bandwidth actuation systems. This paper describes vibration damping methods available for current and future implementation and compares their effectiveness for a model of the Large Synoptic Survey Telescope (LSST), a structure that is actually stiffer than most large telescopes. Although facility and mount design, structural stiffening and occasionally vibration isolation have been adequate in telescopes built to date, vibration damping offers a mass-efficient means of reducing vibration response, whether the vibration results from external wind disturbances, telescope slewing, or other internal disturbances from translating or rotating components. The paper presents several damping techniques including constrained layer viscoelastics, viscous and magnetorheological (MR) fluid devices, passive and active piezoelectric dampers, tuned mass dampers (vibration absorbers) and active resonant dampers. Basic architectures and practical implementation considerations are discussed and expected performance is assessed using a finite element model of the LSST. With a goal of reducing settling time during the telescopes surveys, and considering practicalities of integration with the telescope structure, two damping methods were identified as most appropriate: passive tuned mass dampers and active electromagnetic resonant dampers.