Passive vibration control of a satellite boom structure by geometric optimization using genetic algorithm

In this paper, the superior mid-frequency vibration isolation of a geometrically optimized lightweight structure is demonstrated. The initial structure under test here was a 4.5 m long satellite boom consisting of 10 identical bays with equilateral triangular cross-sections. An unusual geometric variant of this, with inherent isolation characteristics, has been designed by the use of genetic algorithm (GA) methods. In order to obtain the best design, the joints in the boom were allowed to move around by 20% of the length of each bay (i.e., +/- 9 cm in all three translational directions). This work is based on results from a Fortran code (which was derived from receptance analysis) that are fully validated against detailed finite element (FE) models of the structure. The experimental forced response of the regular boom structure has been measured and compared with predicted curves. Finally, having obtained the geometrically optimized boom structure, its experimental response is compared with the theoretical results predicted by the receptance method. It is shown that the average of 30 dB isolation in the vibration energy transfer between the ends of the network of beams, over a 100 Hz bandwidth predicted in the design process, is achieved experimentally in an essentially undamped structure. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.