Vibration control of active structures. An introduction (Q5915685)

For the review of the first, the second and third editions, see [Zbl 0910.73001], [Zbl 1011.74001] and [Zbl 1273.74002], respectively. The 4th edition is an updated and expanded text of the 3rd edition which won a TAA Textbook Award (``Texty''). The book bridges the gap between the dynamics of active structures and the feedback control of lightly damped flexible structures. The emphasis is laid on basic issues and simple working control strategies. This edition consists of prefaces to all editions, contents, 19 chapters, bibliography, and index. Chapters 1--14 and 19 are subject only to minor changes with respect to the previous edition. In Chapter 5, a deeper discussion of the tuning of the inductive shut is introduced, while a simple derivation of the formula for the maximum damping ratio using the root locus is newly added in Chapter 7. Chapter 15 is considerably enlarged to include recent author's result on suspension bridges. The original part devoted to optical telescopes in the 3rd edition is split and expanded into several completely new chapters as follows: Chapter 16 deals with ``Adaptive optics'', that is an application of shape control to flat deformable mirrors. Chapter 17 is focused on ``Active optics'', it means on the control of the overall telescope. Both chapters deal with the large telescope E-ELT which is currently in the design phase and for which the scaling rules lead to unexpected observations. This is in fact the problem of active control design for large multi-input multi-output (MIMO) systems. Chapter 18 is devoted to a general discussion of the future needs for adaptive thin shell space reflectors, i.e., large space reflectors (\(D>10\) m). Quasi-static control based on hierarchical approach is discussed. And a huge difference between the shape control of a flat plate and shell plate with double curvature is mentioned. Each chapter is supplied with numerous examples and supplemented with a set of unsolved problems. A solution manual is available through the publisher to teachers using this book as a textbook for a graduate course on vibration control of flexible structures. The fourth edition of the textbook should serve as an outstanding updated and extended reference book for structural engineers, control engineers, students, and for applied mathematicians interested in this emerging area.