Low-Order $\mathcal{H}_2 / \mathcal{H}_\infty$ Controller Design for Aeroelastic Vibration Suppression

TL;DR

This paper develops a low-order $H_2 / H_inf$ output-feedback controller for active suppression of aeroelastic vibrations in a cantilevered beam, using a combined nonlinear modeling, FEM discretization, and data-driven model reduction approach.

Contribution

It introduces a novel $H_2 / H_inf$ control design methodology incorporating frequency-weighted filters for aeroelastic vibration suppression.

Findings

Effective vibration suppression demonstrated in simulations

Controller robustness to parameter variations confirmed

Frequency-weighted approach enhances disturbance targeting

Abstract

This paper presents an $\mathcal{H}_2 / \mathcal{H}_\infty$ minimization-based output-feedback controller for active aeroelastic vibration suppression in a cantilevered beam. First, a nonlinear structural model incorporating moderate deflection and aerodynamic loading is derived and discretized using the finite element method (FEM). Then, a low-order linear model is identified from random gaussian input response data from the FEM model to synthesize an output-feedback controller using the $\mathcal{H}_2 / \mathcal{H}_\infty$ framework. A frequency-weighted dynamic filter is introduced to emphasize disturbance frequencies of interest, enabling the controller to target dominant vibration modes. Simulation results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed technique for vibration suppression and study its robustness to system parameter variations, including actuator placement.