Controllability of networks of strings and masses

• Main Author: Wei, Ming
• Other Authors: Schmidt, G. (advisor)
• Format: Others
• Language: en
• Published: McGill University 1994
• Subjects: Mathematics.
• Online Access: http://digitool.Library.McGill.CA:80/R/?func=dbin-jump-full&object_id=41784

Modelling, analysis and control of networks of strings: using Hamilton's principle, a nonlinear system of partial differential equations describing the dynamics of a network of vibrating strings joining point masses is derived. The existence of equilibrium configurations is established and some properties are obtained. Linearizing around equilibria one obtains linear hyperbolic systems. The existence of solutions in appropriate spaces is proved. Various results concerning exact controllability are obtained. This work involves variational methods, semigroups, theory of uniform distribution of sequences and hyperbolic estimates. We also get an optimal energy decay rate for a nonlinear feed-back problem.