The suppression of a dynamic instability of an elastic body using feedback control

Abstract A theoretical and experimental study is made to determine the feasibility of controlling a thin cantilevered beam subject to a (nonconservative) follower force. A theoretical model is developed using the equations for a thin beam under initial stress and Galerkin's method. An experiment is constructed with the capability of using a variety of feedback loops to control a thin aluminum beam with a tip jet mounted parallel to the chord. A particular control system is chosen for study and an increase of follower force required to destabilize the beam of over 65 per cent is recorded. The theoretical results show good correlation with the experimentally determined stability boundaries and frequency variations with follower force.