"Adaptive Structural System Synthesis with Multi-Field Coupling"

Synosis of the Lecture

During the past couple of decades, due to the new advances in materials, electronics, and system integration technologies, structural dynamics and control researchers in various disciplines have been investigating the feasibility of creating adaptive structures (also known as smart structures and intelligent structures). The ultimate vision is to develop a structure that has built-in actuation, sensing, decision-making, self-powering, self-diagnostic, and self-healing abilities. From the point of view of structural engineering, the major challenge in recent years is how to best utilize the multi-field-coupling characteristics of the active materials to optimally enhance the function of the overall integrated system. Many interesting phenomena have been explored and promising results have been illustrated. It is clear that to achieve significant advances in future adaptive structure research, structural system researchers will have to conduct even more cross talks with researchers in various other disciplines, such as biology, chemistry, electronics, materials, and nano science. This lecture will review some of the recent interdisciplinary efforts in adaptive structure control and identification enhancement via cross-field coupling synthesis.