LQR CONTROL OF THE NODAL DISPLACEMENTS IN A SPATIAL TRUSS WITH ACTIVE PIEZOELECTRIC MEMBERS

The ability to damp vibrations is important in many structures, in which trusses are one of the main elements. The increase of the damping of the truss vibrations is possible by passive means or by the use of an active vibration control system integrated with the structure of the truss. The control system can affect the truss structure by specially designed actuators, which generate active forces in appropriate nodes of the truss. Piezoelectrics can be used to build such actuators. The design of the control system encompasses the structure of the actuating active truss member, the spacing of active members inside the truss structure, the design of the control algorithm and the spacing of measurement sensors generating feedback signals. In this article, the application of the LQR algorithm to the node displacement control in a spatial truss has been presented. The spacing of active members in the truss structure on the basis of the force distribution in the truss members has been suggested.