A single-degree-of-freedom system using a time-delayed control algorithm: principle and experimental study

Time delay is an important issue when dealing with control system design and analysis in mechanical, aerospace and civil engineering. The unavoidable existence of time delays will hamper the controller, and even amplify undesired responses. It is difficult to design a controller that compensates for the influence of large time delays. Accordingly this study will investigate the design of, and experimental verification of, controllers that take into account such time delays. A single-degree-of-freedom system was analyzed and time delay compensated velocity and displacement feedback control algorithms were designed. Additionally, a new method was developed to take advantage of the time delay when large time delays occur. A one story shear-type structure was set up to experimentally verify the proposed time-delayed control algorithms. Numerical simulation and experimental results demonstrated that the proposed time-delayed control algorithm was effective in reducing the maximum response of the system and that the system stability can be guaranteed despite large time delays.