Port-Hamiltonian modeling and control of piezoelectric beams and plates application to inflatable space structures

Promotie: dhr. T. Voss, 16.15 uur, Academiegebouw, Broerstraat 5, Groningen

Proefschrift: Port-Hamiltonian modeling and control of piezoelectric beams and plates application to inflatable space structures

Promotors: prof.dr.ir. J.M.A. Scherpen

Faculteit: Wiskunde en Natuurwetenschappen

Contact: Thomas Voss, e-mail: tvoss123@web.de

Port-Hamiltonian modeling and control of piezoelectric beams and plates application to inflatable space structures

The modeling and control of piezoelectric material is an important research topic due to the technological feasibility and increased applicability of such material. In general more accurate models result in a better understanding of the process. The deeper understanding can then be used to design more sophisticated controllers which are able to control the shape of piezoelectric material. Such design can lead to more applications for piezoelectric materials, e.g. shape control for smart structures and vibration control. In his thesis Thomas Voss focussed on the modeling and control of piezoelectric beams and plates.

The modeling is done in the infinite dimensional (partial differential equations) port Hamiltonian framework - an energy based modeling framework which gives a better understanding of the underlying physics. The infinite dimensional models are useful for the analysis of the dynamics of the system but are less useful for the actual control and for the simulation of the system. Voss shows how to spatially discretize the infinite dimensional models in such a way that the port-Hamiltonian structure is preserved. Note that we have to preserve the structure of the system since we use energy based control schemes for controlling the shape of the structure. Voss has shown that one is able to control the shape of a piezoelectric beam up to a certain accuracy even with a rather simple controller, i.e., by applying potential energy shaping and damping injection.