Active Vibration Control of a Large Flexible Appendage Using a Novel Joint Mechanism

Abstract

With the evolution of space exploration, large flexible appendages have been developed in space structures. External perturbation or attitude maneuvering stimulates the vibration (low frequencies) of the aforementioned structures. In this research, a novel joint mechanism was developed in conjunction with active control to inhibit the low-frequency vibration of a large flexible appendage. A compact active joint, based on the idea of electromagnetic direct drive, was designed. The dynamic equations for the large flexible appendage system and the active joint were derived using the Lagrange function with the assumed-modes approach. Single- and multi-frequency excitations were simulated by two noncontact strategies for periodic vibration stimulation along the direction of rotation. The research results revealed that the interference signal had a primary frequency bandwidth of 0.07–0.63 Hz, and the vibration attenuation was prominent between 5.95 and 32.41 dB within the valid bandwidth. Effective inhibition of both the larger and the smaller amplitude vibrations at frequencies lower than 1 Hz could be realized using the proposed active joint without attachment of intelligent materials onto the flexible appendage surface.