Theoretical and experimental investigations on an active control system for vertical fin buffeting alleviation using strain actuation

Abstract

In the present investigation, the results obtained during the ground vibration tests of a closed-loop control system conducted on a full-scale fighter to attenuate vertical fin buffeting response using strain actuation are presented. The experimental results are supported by numerical analyses using a finite element aeroelastic model of the structure. Two groups of actuators consisting of piezoelectric elements distributed over the structure were designed to achieve authority over the first and second modes of the vertical fin. The control laws were synthesised using the linear quadratic Gaussian (LQG) method for a time-invariant two-input, two-output (2x2 MIMO) control system. Three different pairs of sensors including strain gauges and accelerometers at different locations were used to close the feedback loop. The results demonstrated that actual reductions of up to 18% in the root-mean-square (RMS) values of the fin dynamic response measured by the strain transducer at the critical point for fatigue at the root were achieved for the second mode under the most severe buffet condition.