Optimizing the Location of the Piezoelectric Actuator and Analyzing Its Effect on the Dynamics of Asymmetric Flexible Spacecraft

Abstract

To address the challenge of optimizing the placement of actuators on an asymmetric spacecraft continuum system, this paper develops a rigid–flexible electromechanical coupling dynamic model that integrates the interactions among rigidity, flexibility, and electromechanical coupling effects. The model is constructed using ordinary differential equations and partial differential equations (ODE–PDEs) and considers the effects of the installation position and physical characteristics (mass and stiffness) of the piezoelectric (PZT) actuator on an asymmetric flexible spacecraft continuum system. The proposed model aims to accurately capture the complex interactions among the rigid body, flexible appendages, and PZT actuators. Based on the developed model, the installation location of the actuators is optimized using a genetic algorithm with a hybrid optimization criterion. In the numerical simulations, the proposed optimization algorithm is employed to determine the optimal installation position for the actuators. Then, the influence of the actuator’s physical characteristics and installation position on the dynamic properties of the spacecraft and the performance of the control system is investigated. The numerical simulation results demonstrate that the optimization algorithm can effectively identify the appropriate actuator installation location for the desired application. Utilizing the actuator with the optimized position allows for effective vibration suppression while consuming less energy.