Boundary feedback stabilization of a variant of the SCOLE model (Q1810765)

This very important and useful paper deals with the boundary feedback stabilization of a variant of the SCOLE model, namely, a flexible beam clamped at one end, and free at the other end where a rigid body is attached. The system is governed by one partial differential equation (the Euler-Bernoulli beam equation for vibrations of the beam) coupled with two ordinary differential equations (the Newton-Euler equations for oscillations of the rigid body). The hybrid system is: \[ \begin{cases} \rho y_{tt}+ EIy_{xxxx}=0,\\ y(0,t)=y_x(0,t)=0\\ Jy_{xtt}(1,t)+ EIy_{xx}(1,t)=\theta_1 (t)\\ my_{tt}(1,t)-Ely_{xxx} (1,t)=\theta_2(t) \end{cases}\tag{1} \] (here the dynamical term \(my_{tt} (1,t)\) is neglected), where \(\theta_1(t)\) and \(\theta_2(t)\) denote the linear moment control and force control acting on the free end of the beam, respectively. Main result: The author proves (with the frequency domain method) that the system (1) is uniformly stabilizable if the control force and control moment are simultaneously applied at the free end of the beam. On the other hand, if only a control force is applied, a sufficient condition on the physical parameters of the system to guarantee the uniform stabilization is proposed. Finally, it is shown that the presence of a boundary control force is necessary to achieve uniform stabilization. The precise proofs of the theorems are given. To verify the theoretical developments, an asymptotic analysis and numerical study of the spectrum are performed.