Affiliations: System Reliability and Machine Acoustics SzM, TU
Darmstadt, Darmstadt, Germany | Fraunhofer Institute for Structural Durability and
System Reliability LBF, Darmstadt, Germany
Note: [] Corresponding author: G.C. Enss, TU Darmstadt, System
Reliability and Machine Acoustics SzM, Magdalenenstrasse 4, 64289 Darmstadt,
Germany. E-mail: enss@szm.tu-darmstadt.de
Abstract: Buckling of load-carrying column structures is an important design
constraint in light-weight structures as it may result in the collapse of an
entire structure. When a column is loaded by an axial compressive load equal to
its individual critical buckling load, a critically stable equilibrium occurs.
When loaded above its critical buckling load, the passive column may buckle. If
the actual loading during usage is not fully known, stability becomes highly
uncertain. This paper presents an approach to control uncertainty in a slender
flat column structure critical to buckling by actively stabilising the
structure. The active stabilisation is based on controlling the first buckling
mode by controlled counteracting lateral forces. This results in a bearable
axial compressive load which can be theoretically almost three times higher
than the actual critical buckling load of the considered system. Finally, the
sensitivity of the presented system will be discussed for the design of an
appropriate controller for stabilising the active column.
Keywords: Uncertainty, buckling, active stabilisation
