A Parameter Study of the Matrix Power Control Algorithm

Abstract

Environmental testing is very useful for qualifying components for their real-world use. To that end, random vibration testing is performed on component(s) in the laboratory in such a way as to mimic their real-world environment. This is particularly useful when testing a component in its real-world environment is time-consuming or costly. To accurately control, a random vibration test is not a simple challenge to meet, with issues arising such as lightly damped modes, signal noise, poorly conditioned frequency response functions (FRFs), and others. This chapter presents a parameter study on the performance of a random vibration control method called the Matrix Power Control Algorithm (MPCA). Additionally, this chapter shows that a simple modification to MPCA can result in improved stability and convergence. In particular, a proportional gain controller is used to change the control parameter for MPCA as a function of the error. Two simulation environments are used in this chapter: a single-input single-output (SISO) fixed-free cantilever beam with base excitation and a multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) fixed–fixed beam with base excitation at both ends of the beam. Additionally, the Box Assembly with a Removeable Component (BARC) was used as a laboratory example illustrating the performance of MPCA and our modification in the laboratory.