Optimization of piezoelectric actuator configuration on a vertical tail for buffeting control

In order to improve the control performance of the tail buffet control system using piezoelectric actuators, a new optimization criterion is used to optimize the configuration of piezoelectric actuators based on output controllability. Macro-fiber composite (MFC) piezoelectric actuator is modeled by a load simulation method of piezoelectric actuator. Dynamic equations of the vertical tail incorporating MFC actuators are obtained by finite element method. An objective function, using modal controllability and modal cost theory, is suggested with the consideration of residual modes to limit the spillover effect. In order to control the first five modes of the vertical tail, genetic algorithm is used to find the optimal configuration and linear-quadratic Gaussian (LQG) controller is adopted to control the response of the vertical tail. Simulation results show that the optimal configuration of MFC actuators not only improves the control performance but also balances system controllability and reduces the influence of residual modes.