Blending of Inputs and Outputs for Modal Control of Aeroelastic Systems

Highly fuel-efficient aircraft designs often suffer from undesired interactions of structural dynamics and aerodynamics which can cause increased loads or even damage to the structure. To mitigate these adverse aeroelastic effects, two novel modal control approaches are developed which greatly facilitate multivariable controller design by blending control inputs and measurement outputs. Depending on the approach, the goal thereby is either to achieve maximum controllability and observability of the targeted mode or to shift its poles to a desired location with a minimum static feedback gain. Both control methods allow explicitly considering actuator constraints and are successfully validated on realistic applications by extensive nonlinear simulations and wind tunnel experiments.