The Design and Control of Smart Structures

Abstract : This is the final report of the Boston University, Harvard University and University of Maryland MURI on Design and Control of Smart Structures. The report contains a summary of results obtained from the inception of the program in May 1997 until its conclusion in August, 2003. Over this period the researchers involved produced new and useful results in the areas of micromechanical devices (fabricated and used at ARL), micro fluidics, work on the control of boundary layer flows, work on modeling micromagnetics, and a range of patented devices including a 1024 segment controllable MEMS mirror and a novel 1000 Hz optical switch based on the control of a fluid interface. More than 60 students at undergraduate, graduate and postdoctoral levels were supported under this project and over 160 papers have appeared acknowledging support from the grant.