Design of a control system using linear matrix inequalities for the active vibration control of a plate

The study of algorithms for active vibration control in smart structures is an area of interest, mainly due to the demand for better performance of mechanical systems, such as aircraft and aerospace structures. Smart structures, formed using actuators and sensors, can improve the dynamic performance with the application of several kinds of controllers. This article describes the application of a technique based on linear matrix inequalities (LMI) to design an active control system. The positioning of the actuators, the design of a robust state feedback controller and the design of an observer are all achieved using LMI. The following are considered in the controller design: limited actuator input, bounded output (energy) and robustness to parametric uncertainties. Active vibration control of a flat plate is chosen as an application example. The model is identified using experimental data by an eigensystem realization algorithm (ERA) and the placement of the two piezoelectric actuators and single sensor is determined using a finite element model (FEM) and an optimization procedure. A robust controller for active damping is designed using an LMI framework, and a reduced model with observation and control spillover effects is implemented using a computer. The simulation results demonstrate the efficacy of the approach, and show that the control system increases the damping in some of the modes.

Experimental Active Vibration Control in Truss Structures Considering Uncertainties in System Parameters

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Novel active and passive anti-vibration mountings

This paper investigates a novel design approach for a vibration isolator for use in space structures. The approach used can particularly be applicable for aerospace structures that support high precision instrumentation such as satellite payloads. The isolator is a space-frame structure that is folded in on itself to act as a mechanical filter over a defined frequency range. The absence of viscoelastic elements in such a mounting makes the design suitable for use in a vacuum and in high temperature or harsh environments with no risk of drift in alignment of the structure. The design uses a genetic algorithm based geometric optimisation routine to maximise passive vibration isolation, and this is hybridised with a geometric feasibility search. To complement the passive isolation system, an active system is incorporated in the design to add damping. Experimental work to validate the feasibility of the approach is also presented, with the active/passive structure achieving transmissibility of about 19 dB over a range of 1-250 Hz. It is shown here that the use of these novel anti-vibration mountings has no or little consequent weight and cost penalties whilst maintaining their effectiveness with the vibration levels. The approach should pave the way for the design of anti-vibration mountings that can be used between most pieces of equipment and their supporting structure. Crown Copyright (C) 2011 Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Estudo da influência do biodiesel de mamona como aditivo antioxidante para o biodiesel de girassol e soja

Biodiesel is a fuel made up by mono-alkyl-esters of long chain fatty acids, derived from vegetable oils or animal fat. This fuel can be used in compression ignition engines for automotive propulsion or energy generation, as a partial or total substitute of fossil diesel fuel. Biodiesel can be processed from different mechanisms. Transesterification is the most common process for obtaining biodiesel, in which an ester compound reacts with an alcohol to form a new ester and a new alcohol. These reactions are normally catalyzed by the addition of an acid or a base. Initially sunflower, castor and soybean oil physicochemical properties are determined according to standard test methods, to evaluate if they had favorable conditions for use as raw material in the transesterification reaction. Sunflower, castor and soybean biodiesel were obtained by the methylic transesterification route in the presence of KOH and presented a yield above 93% m/m. The sunflower/castor and soybean/castor blends were studied with the aim of evaluating the thermal and oxidative stability of the biofuels. The biodiesel and blends were characterized by acid value, iodine value, density, flash point, sulfur content, and content of methanol and esters by gas chromatography (GC). Also studies of thermal and oxidative stability by Thermogravimetry (TG), Differential Scanning Calorimetry High Pressure (P-DSC) and dynamic method exothermic and Rancimat were carried out. Biodiesel sunflower and soybean are presented according to the specifications established by the Resolution ANP no 7/2008. Biodiesel from castor oil, as expected, showed a high density and kinematic viscosity. For the blends studied, the concentration of castor biodiesel to increased the density, kinematic viscosity and flash point. The addition of castor biodiesel as antioxidant in sunflower and soybean biodiesels is promising, for a significant improvement in resistance to autoxidation and therefore on its oxidative stability. The blends showed that compliance with the requirements of the ANP have been included in the range of 20-40%. This form may be used as a partial substitute of fossil diesel

Cauchy-Stieltjes Integral on Time Scales in Banach Spaces and Hysteresis Operators

The play operator has a fundamental importance in the theory of hysteresis. It was studied in various settings as shown by P. Krejci and Ph. Laurencot in 2002. In that work it was considered the Young integral in the frame of Hilbert spaces. Here we study the play in the frame of the regulated functions (that is: the ones having only discontinuities of the first kind) on a general time scale T (that is: with T being a nonempty closed set of real numbers) with values in a Banach space. We will be showing that the dual space in this case will be defined as the space of operators of bounded semivariation if we consider as the bilinearity pairing the Cauchy-Stieltjes integral on time scales.

Hartman-Grobman decomposition when in presence of jumps in the relative degree of the dynamics in an energy harvesting device

This work deals with the nonlinear piezoelectric coupling in vibration-based energy harvesting, done by A. Triplett and D.D. Quinn in J. of Intelligent Material Syst. and Structures (2009). In that paper the first order nonlinear fundamental equation has a three dimensional state variable. Introducing both observable and control variables in such a way the controlled system became a SISO system, we can obtain as a corollary that for a particular choice of the observable variable it is possible to present an explicit functional relation between this variable one, and the variable representing the charge harvested. After-by observing that the structure in the Input-Output decomposition essentially changes depending on the relative degree changes, presenting bifurcation branches in its zero dynamics-we are able in to identify this type of bifurcation indicating its close relation with the Hartman - Grobman theorem telling about decomposition into stable and the unstable manifolds for hyperbolic points.

A Modified Technique of Rat Tail Suspension for Longer Periods of Observation

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Ballast water: a review of the impact on the world public health

Since the nineteenth century ships have been using ballast water (BW) for safety, stability, propulsion and maneuverability, as well as to redress loss of fuel weight and water consumption, and to maintain structural stress at acceptable levels. Ballast water has been spreading many non-native species around the globe, but little is known about the extent and potential significance of ship-mediated transfer of microorganisms. The global movements of ballast water by ships create a long-distance dispersal mechanism for human pathogens that may be important in the worldwide distribution of microorganisms, as well as for the epidemiology of waterborne diseases. Only a few studies have been carried out on this subject, most of them involving ballast water containing crustacean larvae and phytoplankton. Specialized microbiological studies on these waters are necessary to avoid a repeat of what happened in 1991, when epidemic cholera was reported in Peru and rapidly spread through Latin America and Mexico. In July of 1992, Vibrio cholerae was found in the USA and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) determined that it came from ballast water of ships whose last port of call was in South America. In Brazil, just a few studies about the subject have been performed. An exploratory study by the Brazilian National Health Surveillance Agency (Agencia Nacional de Vigilancia Sanitaria - ANVISA) found in ballast water different microorganisms, such as fecal coliforms, Escherichia coli, Enterococcus faecalis, Clostridium perfringens, coliphages, Vibrio cholerae O1 and Vibrio cholerae non-O1. Until now, Brazil has been focusing only on organisms transported to its territory from other countries by ballast water, to avoid their establishment and dissemination in Brazilian areas. Studies that can assess the probability that water ballast carries pathogenic microorganisms are extremely important, as is the examination of ships that arrive in the country. Treatment of the human infections caused by BW exists but none is completely safe and efficient.

Efeito da concentração do catalisador acetilacetonato férrico na cura de poliuretano à base de polibutadieno líquido hidroxilado (PBLH) e diisocianato de isoforona (IPDI)

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Avaliação da resistência à corrosão de aços inoxidáveis com Nb endurecíveis por precipitação

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Avaliação da resistência ao desgaste de aços inoxidáveis endurecíveis por precipitação nitretados

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

The effect of the ocean water immersion and UV ageing on the dynamic mechanical properties of the PPS/glass fiber composites

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Processing and mechanical characterization of titanium-graphite hybrid laminates

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Evaluation by Free Vibration Method of Moisture Absorption Effects in Polyamide/Carbon Fiber Laminates

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)