Construction of linear time‐invariant equivalent plants for nonlinear continuous‐time and sampled‐data systems

Abstract

AbstractIn this paper, a technique is presented for constructing the so‐called linear time‐invariant equivalent (LTIE) plants used in the nonlinear quantitative feed back theory (QFT) approach. The proposed technique is applicable equally well to both continuous‐time and sampled‐data nonlinear plants described by nonlinear integro‐differential equation and nonlinear autoregressive moving average with exogenous inputs (NARMAX) models, respectively. The technique uses inclusion function and interval integration tools of interval analysis. A nonlinear chemical reactor example is used to illustrate the procedure for both nonlinear continuous‐time and sampled‐data systems, and found to yield satisfactory results in both cases. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.