Stability of viscoelastic control systems

Classical root locus plot analysis is adapted to some one-dimensional, controlled, distributed, viscoelastic structures. The constitutive law that is used for the viscoelastic material may be modeled with fractional order derivatives provided the control law(s) involve similar derivatives. Two sample one-dimensional structures and control systems are used to introduce the approach. A partial-differential-equation representation of each structure is used as well as Ritz approximation. The effect of error due to approximation on stability conclusions is discussed in the context of this comparison.<
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