Periodic Reporting for period 2 - ConFlex (Control of flexible structures and fluid-structure interactions)
Periodo di rendicontazione: 2019-10-01 al 2022-03-31
The aim of the ConFlex consortium has been to train the next generation of researchers on the control of flexible structures and fluid-structure interactions, using and also contributing to the latest advances in control theory and energy-based modelling of physical systems. ConFlex’s key strength has been a research environment that brought together mathematicians and engineers to provide the 15 ESRs in the programme with a unique training environment. The 15 academics involved in ConFlex have been leading specialists in the European area, well balanced between mathematicians and engineers with expertise in control theory, complex dynamical systems, fluid dynamics, aeroelasticity, power electronics, swimming theory and marine engineering, located in the UK, France, The Netherlands, Spain, Germany and Israel. We also had 4 academic and 11 prestigious industrial partners.
The last 20 years have seen tremendous advances in the techniques used for controlling and stabilizing flexible structures that are subject to disturbances, possibly in interaction with fluid (air or water), both from the perspective of the theory (modelling, control and simulation), as well as from the perspective of technology (available sensors, processors and actuators). Applications of our research include active processor-controlled flaps that can be used to stabilize turbine blades in wind turbines, aircraft wings and other structures. We have developed the design an application of tuned mass dampers for stabilizing flexible structures. Industry needs powerful new tools for the modelling and control of complex flexible structures that provide higher efficiency or even entirely new functions.
Controlling floating platforms in the sea (for instance floating wind turbines), has been an important topic, that will be continued in a new ETN consortium funded by the EC.
Real time control design using reduced order models for beam networks with fluid structure interaction has been a successful area for the consortium, leading to important insights into applying machine learning in this field.
On the theoretical side, there have been great strides in the modelling and analysis of coupled systems, in modelling of complex structures in the port-Hamiltonian framework, in structure preserving model reduction and in the understanding and control of complex fluid-structure interactions, and in adaptive internal model based control, based on advanced mathematical tools, that are useful in the control of inverters and microgrids. These advances, coupled with capabilities of new digital signal processors, make it possible to perform simulations and apply control algorithms that are computationally demanding, and were unthinkable 20 years ago.
This ensures that European academia, research labs and industry remain globally competitive in this area of interface between mathematical modelling, systems and control theory, electrical and mechanical engineering.
The last 20 years have seen tremendous advances in the techniques used for controlling and stabilizing flexible structures that are subject to disturbances, possibly in interaction with fluid (air or water), both from the perspective of the theory (modelling, control and simulation), as well as from the perspective of technology (available sensors, processors and actuators). Applications of our research include active processor-controlled flaps that can be used to stabilize turbine blades in wind turbines, aircraft wings and other structures. We have developed the design an application of tuned mass dampers for stabilizing flexible structures. Industry needs powerful new tools for the modelling and control of complex flexible structures that provide higher efficiency or even entirely new functions.
Controlling floating platforms in the sea (for instance floating wind turbines), has been an important topic, that will be continued in a new ETN consortium funded by the EC.
Real time control design using reduced order models for beam networks with fluid structure interaction has been a successful area for the consortium, leading to important insights into applying machine learning in this field.
On the theoretical side, there have been great strides in the modelling and analysis of coupled systems, in modelling of complex structures in the port-Hamiltonian framework, in structure preserving model reduction and in the understanding and control of complex fluid-structure interactions, and in adaptive internal model based control, based on advanced mathematical tools, that are useful in the control of inverters and microgrids. These advances, coupled with capabilities of new digital signal processors, make it possible to perform simulations and apply control algorithms that are computationally demanding, and were unthinkable 20 years ago.
This ensures that European academia, research labs and industry remain globally competitive in this area of interface between mathematical modelling, systems and control theory, electrical and mechanical engineering.
All scientific deliverables and expectations have been successfully met in spite of the imposed COVID challenges, including the published papers, expressing ConFlex's high quality achievements of the education and the training of the ESRs.
ConFlex's research has been divided into 5 work packages, as follows:
WP1: Control and stabilization of coupled DPS with applications: development of advanced modelling and analysis tools suitable for control of flexible structures, design of control systems for the models, while modelling the fluid-structure interactions in the port-Hamiltonian framework, analysis of the well-posedness and control properties of coupled systems, development of advanced control methods for these models
WP2: Control and stabilization of flexible structures coupled to fluid flow, with applications to network models with complex topologies, large deflections in interaction with a fluid (pipe-flow, structures immersed in a fluid, wind). Developed reduced order models (ROM) for geometrically exact beams and beam networks with fluid structure interaction, the characterization of a family of output-feedback regulators and the derivation of real time capable nonlinear model predictive control schemes based on ROM
WP3: Port-Hamiltonian approach to the modelling and control of flexible structures with focus on design approximation techniques that extend the analysis to multidimensional spatial domains. Developed robust control methodologies for nonlinear infinite dimensional systems as well as advanced modelling and analysis tools suitable for control of flexible structures, which may be subject to aerodynamic loading
WP4: Development of passive and active control algorithms to suppress the vibrations of wind turbine blades, applying the control techniques developed in ConFlex on innovative engineering solutions, with modelling and vibration reduction of wind turbine blades using controllable flaps and aeroelastic tailoring, both in floating and fixed-bottom conditions
WP5: Control of fluid-structure interactions with applications in marine engineering, in particular salvage operations: developed and tested models from the mathematical and numerical viewpoint.
ConFlex's research has been divided into 5 work packages, as follows:
WP1: Control and stabilization of coupled DPS with applications: development of advanced modelling and analysis tools suitable for control of flexible structures, design of control systems for the models, while modelling the fluid-structure interactions in the port-Hamiltonian framework, analysis of the well-posedness and control properties of coupled systems, development of advanced control methods for these models
WP2: Control and stabilization of flexible structures coupled to fluid flow, with applications to network models with complex topologies, large deflections in interaction with a fluid (pipe-flow, structures immersed in a fluid, wind). Developed reduced order models (ROM) for geometrically exact beams and beam networks with fluid structure interaction, the characterization of a family of output-feedback regulators and the derivation of real time capable nonlinear model predictive control schemes based on ROM
WP3: Port-Hamiltonian approach to the modelling and control of flexible structures with focus on design approximation techniques that extend the analysis to multidimensional spatial domains. Developed robust control methodologies for nonlinear infinite dimensional systems as well as advanced modelling and analysis tools suitable for control of flexible structures, which may be subject to aerodynamic loading
WP4: Development of passive and active control algorithms to suppress the vibrations of wind turbine blades, applying the control techniques developed in ConFlex on innovative engineering solutions, with modelling and vibration reduction of wind turbine blades using controllable flaps and aeroelastic tailoring, both in floating and fixed-bottom conditions
WP5: Control of fluid-structure interactions with applications in marine engineering, in particular salvage operations: developed and tested models from the mathematical and numerical viewpoint.
ConFlex's research is directly applicable to wind energy, aerospace, marine engineering and medical instrumentation industries, as these industries are vital to the EU’s economy and energy security.
All scientific deliverables and expectations have been successfully met in spite of the imposed COVID challenges, including the number of published papers.
Although major conferences went virtual or have been cancelled, it was still possible to raise public awareness of our topics and our achievements, by special sessions at international conferences, such as IFAC World Congress, Berlin, July 2020 and IEEE 60th Conference on Decision and Control 2021, Texas, USA, December 2021.
ConFlex’s social impact is in the following directions:
• Contribution to structuring doctoral training at the European level and to strengthening European innovation capacity, by providing an excellent training to 15 young researchers at the interface of control engineering, applied mathematics and structural mechanics. ConFlex will have a lasting impact on structure the European research in the relevant fields, and enhance the innovation capability in Europe.
• Strengthening EU research innovation capacity, by providing highly technical, academic and interpersonal skills to the ESRs, which will feed through to develop the next generation of intellectual and technical leaders in European academia and industry and will therefore enhance the EU’s leadership status in this area.
• Industrial impact: The research is directly applicable to industry, specifically wind and wave energy, their grid-integration, aerospace, marine engineering and medical instrumentation. The European Wind Energy Association predicted 3 years ago that 50% of the EU’s electricity demand will be met by wind by 2050, but in light of the recent developments in Ukraine, this development has to be accelerated even more. Our research into the control and grid integration of wind turbines addresses a growth area of the EU economy and will therefore contribute to its economic, environmental and societal wellbeing.
It strengthens equality in EU academia as ConFlex enhances the position and influence of female researchers in academia, by having 2 female senior researchers and 4 female ESRs.
All scientific deliverables and expectations have been successfully met in spite of the imposed COVID challenges, including the number of published papers.
Although major conferences went virtual or have been cancelled, it was still possible to raise public awareness of our topics and our achievements, by special sessions at international conferences, such as IFAC World Congress, Berlin, July 2020 and IEEE 60th Conference on Decision and Control 2021, Texas, USA, December 2021.
ConFlex’s social impact is in the following directions:
• Contribution to structuring doctoral training at the European level and to strengthening European innovation capacity, by providing an excellent training to 15 young researchers at the interface of control engineering, applied mathematics and structural mechanics. ConFlex will have a lasting impact on structure the European research in the relevant fields, and enhance the innovation capability in Europe.
• Strengthening EU research innovation capacity, by providing highly technical, academic and interpersonal skills to the ESRs, which will feed through to develop the next generation of intellectual and technical leaders in European academia and industry and will therefore enhance the EU’s leadership status in this area.
• Industrial impact: The research is directly applicable to industry, specifically wind and wave energy, their grid-integration, aerospace, marine engineering and medical instrumentation. The European Wind Energy Association predicted 3 years ago that 50% of the EU’s electricity demand will be met by wind by 2050, but in light of the recent developments in Ukraine, this development has to be accelerated even more. Our research into the control and grid integration of wind turbines addresses a growth area of the EU economy and will therefore contribute to its economic, environmental and societal wellbeing.
It strengthens equality in EU academia as ConFlex enhances the position and influence of female researchers in academia, by having 2 female senior researchers and 4 female ESRs.