We consider a multilayer Rao-Nakra sandwich beam with shear damping included in alternate layers. In the case that the wave speeds of the layers are distinct, we show that by "tuning" the damping in each layer appropriately, it is possible to construct a scalar boundary control that exactly controls the entire layered system in a control time related to the sum of the control times of each separate layer. In the case where some waves speeds coincide, one can reduce the number of controls needed, but not to a single scalar control.

Date Published: 18 April 2007
PDF: 8 pages
Proc. SPIE 6523, Modeling, Signal Processing, and Control for Smart Structures 2007, 65230P (18 April 2007); doi: 10.1117/12.715941

Published in SPIE Proceedings Vol. 6523:
Modeling, Signal Processing, and Control for Smart Structures 2007
Douglas K. Lindner, Editor(s)