Traveling wave control for large spacecraft structures

Abstract

This paper introduces the point of view that elastic deformations in large spacecraft structures may be aptly viewed in terms of propagating disturbances. Since the main topic of this paper is the control concepts, which result from such a viewpoint, the required structural dynamic description in terms of travelling disturbances is described only briefly, with reference to previously published works. The active control of these structures is approached from the point of view of actively modifying the natural disturbance propagation paths. Elastic energy is shunted into unimportant portions of the structure or is absorbed by an active wave absorber. Several computational examples demonstrate the remarkable theoretical performance achievable by propagation-based controllers. Some discussion of practical difficulties in the implementation of such controllers is included.