Control design variable linking for optimization of structural/control systems

A method is presented to integrate the design space of structural/control system optimization problems in the case of linear state feedback control. Conventional structural sizing variables and elements of the feedback gain matrix are both treated as strictly independent design variables in the optimization by extending design variable linking concepts to the control gains. Several approximation concepts including new control design variable linking schemes are used to formulate the integrated structural/control optimization problem into the general nonlinear mathematical programming problem. Examples which involve a variety of behavior constraints, including constraints on static deflections, dynamic stability, control effort, peak transient displacement, acceleration and control force limits, are effectively solved by using the method presented.