Optimized design of robust resonator with distributed time-delay

Abstract

An extension of the well-known delayed resonator concept is proposed with the objective to enhance its robustness in vibration suppression under guaranteeing stability of the overall set up. The novel resonator feedback is based on an acceleration measurements passing through a delay of polynomial distribution. The feedback design is formulated as an optimization problem over the parameter set formed by the polynomial coefficients and the gain of the delay free part. The first objective is to minimize the sensitivity of the resonator performance with respect to variations of the excitation frequency, i.e. to widen its frequency stop-band centered at the nominal excitation frequency. The second, equally significant objective is to guarantee that this does not lead to instability of the overall mechanical system coupled with the absorber and to ensure sufficient stability margin. The arising non-convex and non-smooth optimization problem is widely discussed and a penalty method is developed, where the unconstrained problem in every iteration step is solved using available software tools for optimization and spectral design of time delay systems. The proposed design technique is validated by simulations for two case study examples.