Active Vibration Control for a Large Annular Flexible Structure via a Macro-Fiber Composite Strain Sensor and Voice Coil Actuator

Abstract

Large annular flexible structures (LAFS) are typical antenna structures for satellites. This structure can significantly increase antenna aperture and effectively improve communication accuracy with minimum addition of mass. LAFS have become mainstream for large aperture antenna structures. However, they have disadvantages, such as low natural frequencies, low damping ratio, and low stiffness. They easily suffer from low frequency, longtime and modal responses. Therefore, the vibration control of LAFS is very important. This study proposes a novel active vibration control method using macro-fiber composite (MFC) as a sensing unit, a voice coil actuator and a PD-fuzzy control algorithm. The MFC sensor can measure a minimum strain of 10-8 m/m. The voice coil actuator generates a displacement and driving force. Based on the feedback signal from the MFC sensor, the PD-fuzzy control algorithm controls the voice coil actuator. A dynamic model of LAFS was established, and its characteristics analyzed. A theoretical model for the voice coil actuator and MFC sensor were established, and the corresponding governing equations derived. An experimental system was set up. The results demonstrated that the novel active vibration control method has good performance. This active vibration control method can control vibration at ultralow frequencies and requires no additional stiffness.

The low frequency vibration control of the hoop truss structure with extended arm

“…20 and An et al. 11 used piezoelectric actuator and VCA to establish the control system for the first mode of hoop flexible structure, respectively. However, the output displacement of the PZT actuator is small.…”

“…An et al. 11 adopted VCA to suppress the vibration of hoop truss structure. The control method was applied for the first-order mode.…”

Integral terminal sliding-mode robust vibration control of large space intelligent truss structures using a disturbance observer

“…The actuator is a significant component of structural active vibration control. At present, many types of actuators are used to suppress the active vibrations of large flexible structures, including piezoelectric patches, 3,4 piezoelectric stacks, [5][6][7][8][9][10] voice coils, [11][12][13] air thrusters 14 and cables. 15,16 Piezoelectric stack actuators have advantages of wideband action, simplicity, reliability, compactness, portability, low power consumption and easy application.…”

The vibration suppression of solar panel based on smart structure

“…What is more, the microsatellite may be scrapped under certain circumstances. As viewed from these problems, in order to suppress the vibration of flexible structures, smart material is applied to design smart structure to establish the active vibration control (AVC) system, which is closed-loop control system (1,2) . It is generally true that the key technologies are control algorithms, sensors and actuators.…”