A Classical Approach to Uniform Null Controllability for Elastic Beams

Initial-boundary value problems for higher-order hyperbolic equations (35L35) Rods (beams, columns, shafts, arches, rings, etc.) (74K10) Controllability (93B05) Control/observation systems governed by partial differential equations (93C20)

Review text

The author considers the mathematical models known as Timoshenko, Raleigh and Euler-Bernoulli beams. The Timoshenko beam is modeled by the system of equations: \[ I_\rho\psi_{tt}-EI\psi_{xx}+K(\psi-w_x)=0,\quad\rho w_{tt}+K(\psi-w_x)=0, \] with appropriate initial and boundary conditions. Here \(w\) is the transverse displacement of the beam, \(\psi\) is the angle of rotation, \(K\) is the shear modulus, \(E\) is Young's modulus, \(EI\) is the flexural rigidity, and \(I_\rho\) is the moment of rotary inertia. Eliminating \(\psi\) by formal differentiation one obtains the Timoshenko equation: \[ \rho w_{tt}-I_\rho \psi_{ttxx}+EIw_{xxxx}+(\rho/K)(I_\rho w_{tttt}-EIw_{xxtt})=0.\tag{1} \] The term \(-I_\rho\psi_{ttxx}\) represents a contribution of rotary inertia, while \((\rho/K)(I_\rho w_{tttt}-EIw_{xxtt})\) is a contribution of shear. If shear is ignored, we obtain the Rayleigh beam equation \[ \rho w_{tt}- I_\rho \psi_{ttxx}+ EIw_{xxxx}=0. \tag{2} \] Thus the Rayleigh equation may be obtained by letting \(K\to\infty\) in (1). If rotary inertia is also neglected, we obtain the Euler-Bernoulli (freely vibrating) beam equation: \[ \rho w_{tt}+ EIw_{xxxx}=0. \tag{3} \] Unlike the Euler-Bernoulli operator, the Timoshenko operator is fully hyperbolic with respect to \(x\) and \(t\), while the Rayleigh operator is quasi-hyperbolic with respect to \(t\). The author refers to his Ph.D. dissertation for the proof that unique fundamental solutions exist in the space of tempered distributions. An intricate proof is offered that both the Timoshenko and the Rayleigh system can be driven to rest by applying admissible controls at the ends of the beam. Moreover the process of null controls is uniform. Having derived controllability of the Timoshenko beam the null controllability of the Rayleigh beam is obtained by letting \(K\to\infty\). While the author uses only classical PDE techniques, his proofs consisting of careful analysis in the Fourier transform space are neither obvious nor even easy to follow at first reading. With small additional effort his arguments should be applicable to higher dimensional systems, for example to Mindlin plates.

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