State control with LQR algorithms applied in vibration damping of cantilever beam

Composite structures with embedded active MFC (Macro Fiber Composite) actuators give new possibilities in regulation of responsible systems. Application of these structures allow to form and change mechanical characteristics. One of the main applications is vibration damping. For such application, the MFC actuators are powered by transistor converters which are controlled by DSP microcontrollers. Presented paper describes results obtained for a cantilever beam with an embedded piezoelectric MFC actuator. Operational characteristics of this composite structure are formed in closed loop control systems, because of the beam and actuator nonlinearities, linear and resonant controllers don't give satisfactory solutions [5]. Therefore a LQR controller is applied, for which mutual test allows to estimate the influence of feedback signal delay time on damping properties and MFC supply voltage characteristics.