Active Stabilization of a Slender Beam-Column under Static Axial Loading and Estimated Uncertainty in Actuator Properties

Buckling of load-carrying beam-columns is a severe failure scenario in light-weight structures. The authors present an approach to actively stabilize a slender beam-column under static axial load to prevent it from buckling in its first buckling mode. For that, controlled active counteracting forces are applied by two piezoelectric stack actuators near the column’s fixed base, achieving a 40% higher axial critical load and leaving most of the column’s surface free from actuation devices. However, uncertain actuator properties due to tolerances in characteristic maximum free stroke and blocking force capability have an influence on the active stabilization. This uncertainty and its effect on active buckling control is investigated by numerical simulation, based on experimental tests to determine the actual maximum free stroke and blocking force for several piezoelectric stack actuators. The simulation shows that the success of active buckling control depends on the actuator’s variation in its maximum free stroke and blocking force capability.