This paper provides a survey of actuator and sensor placement problems from a wide range of engineering disciplines and a variety of applications. Combinatorial optimization methods are recommended as a means for identifying sets of actuators and sensors that maximize performance. Several sample applications from NASA Langley Research Center such as active structural acoustic control are covered in detail. Laboratory and flight tests of these applications indicate that actuator and sensor placement methods are effective and important. Lessons learned in solving these optimization problems can guide future research.

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Optimization Strategies for Sensor and Actuator Placement

Modelling and design of adaptive composite structures

Optimal actuator/sensor placement for linear parabolic PDEs using spatial H2 norm

Optimal design in vibration control of adaptive structures using a simulated annealing algorithm

In the beginning, the electro-mechanical (EM) impedance method for structural health monitoring was recognized as a means of structural in-situ stress monitoring and measurement. Consequently, theoretical analysis based on the EM impedance method as a tool for in-situ stress identification in structural members was presented. A dynamic impedance model derived from the Euler-Bernoulli beam theory was developed to investigate the influence of in-situ stress on the dynamic and electro-mechanical response of a smart beam interrogated by a pair of symmetrically bounded, surface-bonded piezoceramic (PZT) transducers. Numerical simulation was performed for a laboratory sized smart beam subjected to a multitude of axial loads at the ends. It was found that natural frequency shifts takes place in the presence of in-situ stress. Furthermore, these shifts, which are linearly related to the magnitude of applied load, is directly reflected in the point-wise dynamic stiffness response. However, in terms of the electro-mechanical response, which can be measured directly, the shift of peaks of the EM admittance signature is not directly indicative of the natural frequency shifts. This arises as an inverse problem in engineering, which cannot be deciphered using direct approach. Back calculation of the in-situ stress using genetic algorithm (GA) was proposed.

Application of the electro-mechanical impedance method for the identification of in-situ stress in structures

In this paper, a new design algorithm is proposed for optimization of the inducedstrain actuator location and configuration for active vibration control based on an actuator performance index, namely the actuator power factor. The concept of actuator power factor, developed recently by the authors, describes the capability of an integrated induced strain actuator, such as PZT or Terfenol, to transfer the supplied electrical energy into structural mechanical energy (kinetic or potential energy of the mechanical system). A system optimized based on the actuator power factor will guarantee the highest energy efficiency for single frequency and broad-band applications. This paper will also show that a higher energy efficiency corresponds to higher mechanical performance. The approach introduced in this paper is much more convenient to use than the conventional modal domain optimization approach. Furthermore, since the power factor approach can include the electrical parameters from the power system, it will a...

F. P. Sun

Papers

Determination of Design of Optimal Actuator Location and Configuration Based on Actuator Power Factor