Modal Controllability and Observability of General Mechanical Systems

Abstract

Controllability and observability are studied for general mechanical systems with combined effects of damping, gyroscopic and circulatory forces. A new modal analysis is proposed to represent the system transfer functions by the nonorthogonal eigenvectors that are associated with the original equations of motion. Investigation of linear independence of the rows and columns of the transfer functions yields the modal controllability and observability conditions. Because of their explicit relationships with the vibration modes, the controllability and observability tests require less computation than the conventional criteria, avoid trial and error in selection and positioning of actuators and sensors, and can be applied to systems with unidentified parameters. Moreover, the closed-loop root locus sensitivity coefficients are examined to give insights into modal controllability and observability, and to provide useful guidance for active controller design.