In recent years, significant activity around the world has been directed toward active control of mechanical structures. The goal of much of this research is to increase the reliability and safety of these structures against dynamic loadings. However, the design of most systems is done under conditions of uncertainty. If the uncertainties are not properly considered in the design of a control strategy, an absolute assurance cannot be given about the performance of the controlled structure. Such assurance can only be given in terms of a probability of failure in satisfying a criterion of performance: it is the reliability. This paper proposes a method to determine active mechanical structures effectiveness while assessing their estimated reliability, using design of experiments. Models joining active mechanical structures theories and those of reliability, and design of experiments method are presented. Numerical examples are provided through a controlled panel subjected to white noise excitation, to illustrate the effectiveness of the method.

In recent years, significant activity has been directed toward active control of mechanical structures. In particular, this is the case of structures subjected to random vibrations where the vibratory environment can deteriorate their performance or cause faulty operation. Development of the regulator, which defines the commands to the actuators, is done by the implementation of a small model of the system to be integrated in real time. This paper presents the active control of a generic mechanical structure and analyzes the influence of the uncertain parameters on the stability and the performance of the system by using the artificial neural network methodology.

Ces dernieres decennies, des activites significatives dans le monde etaient dirigees autour du controle actif. Le but de ces recherches etait essentiellement d'ameliorer les performances, la fiabilite et la securite des systemes. Notamment dans le cas des structures soumises a des vibrations aleatoires. D'importants travaux ont ete consacre a l'utilisation des materiaux intelligents comme capteurs et actionneurs. Cette article propose l'analyse de la fiabilite des systemes mecaniques en etudiant les pannes des actionneurs ou des capteurs. L'effet de ces pannes sur la stabilite et la performance du systeme y est demontre. Les methodologies de conception y sont rappelees. Des exemples numeriques sont fournis a travers le controle d'un panneau sous chargement dynamique pour illustrer la methode proposee.