The Galerkin method and feedback control of linear distributed parameter systems (Q801863)

An important practical consideration in the stabilization/control of a distributed parameter system (DPS) is that the controller be finite dimensional. Either one can approximate the DPS ab initio and work with a reduced order model (ROM) in designing the controller or try to show that some infinite dimensional controller can successfully be replaced by a finite dimensional approximation. The author's previous work has used ROM's based on modal expansion. Here, noting that the exact modes are typically unknown in engineering practice, a construction is given to obtain a ROM using Galerkin approximation. Stabilization is then demonstrated under auxiliary hypotheses. The full goal - obtaining rigor in the contexts of engineering practice - has not yet been attained but this is a valuable step.