This book is concerned with electrostructural systems, particularly the interaction between the control of the structural and electrical (electronic) components. Structronics is a new emerging area with many potential applications in the design of high-performance structures, adaptive structures, high-precision systems, and micro-systems. As structures are increasingly being controlled by electronics, the problems of structural engineering can be separated less and less from those of electronic engineering and control engineering. This graduate-level book fills a gap in the literature by considering these problems while giving an overview of the current state of analysis, modelling and control for structronic systems. It is a coherent compendium written by leading experts in this new research area and gives readers a sophisticated toolbox that will allow them to tackle the modelling and control of smart structures. The inclusion of an extensive, up-to-date bibliography and index makes this volume an invaluable standard for professional reference.Because of the large number of contributions to the present volume, it has been subdivided into two parts, of which this is Part I. This book will be of interest to engineers, materials scientists, physicists and applied mathematicians.The synergistic integration of active (smart) materials, structures, sensors, actuators, and control electronics has redefined the concept of structures from a conventional passive elastic system to an active (life-like) structronic (structure + electronic) system with inherent self-sensing, diagnosis, and control capabilities. Because of its multi-disciplinary nature, the development of structronic systems has attracted researchers and scientists from many disciplines, such as structures, materials, control, electronics, mathematics, manufacturing, electromechanics, and mechanics. In practical applications, this new structronic system can be used as a component of high-performance machines or structural systems, or be an integrated structure itself performing designated function(s).Most common active (smart) materials, such as piezoelectrics, shape-memory alloys, electro- and magneto-strictive materials, and polyelectrolyte gels have been reviewed in Part I. Application examples are also provided and research issues reported on. While the first part focuses primarily on materials and structures, Part II emphasizes control applications and intelligent systems. With the information provided in this two-volume book, scientists and researchers can easily grasp the state of the art of smart materials and structronic systems, and are ready to pursue their own research and development endeavors.

Proceedings of the IUTAM Symposium on Smart Structures and Structronic Systems, held in Magdeburg, Germany, 26-29 September 2000

This book is a collection of papers on the subject of applied system dynamics and control written by experts in this field. It offers the reader a sampling of exciting research areas in three fast-growing branches: (i) Wave Motion (ii) Intelligent Structures (iii) Nonlinear Mechanics. The topics covered include flow instability, nonlinear mode localization autoparametric systems with pendula, and geometric stiffening in multibody dynamics. Mathematical methods include perturbation methods, modern control theory, nonlinear neural nets, and resonance scattering theory of Überall-Ripoche-Maze. Applications include sound-induced structural vibrations, fiber acoustic waveguides, vibration suppression of structures, linear control of gyroscopic systems, and nonlinear control of distributed systems.This book shows how applied system dynamics and control is currently being utilized and investigated. It will be of interest to engineers, applied mathematicians and physicists.

Adaptronics is the term encompassing technical fields that have become known internationally under the names "smart materials", "intelligent structures", and "smart structures". Adaptronics contributes to the optimisation of systems and products. It bridges the gap between material and system or product, and incorporates the search for multi-functional materials and elements and their integration in systems or structures. The authors of this book have taken on the task of displaying the current state of the art in this fascinating field. The system components, actuators, sensors and controllers, technical fundamentals, materials, design rules and practical solutions are all described. Selected sample applications are also presented and current development trends are demonstrated.

Dynamics of Smart Structures is a practical, concise and integrated text that provides an introduction to the fundamental principles of a field that has evolved over the recent years into an independent and identifiable subject area. Bringing together the concepts, techniques and systems associated with the dynamics and control of smart structures, it comprehensively reviews the differing smart materials that are employed in the development of the smart structures and covers several recent developments in the field of structural dynamics. Dynamics of Smart Structures has been developed to complement the author's new interdisciplinary programme of study at Queen Mary, University of London that includes courses on emerging and new technologies such as biomimetic robotics, smart composite structures, micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) and their applications and prosthetic control systems. It includes chapters on smart materials and structures, transducers for smart structures, fundamentals of structural control, dynamics of continuous structures, dynamics of plates and plate-like structures, dynamics of piezoelectric media, mechanics of electro-actuated composite structures, dynamics of thermo-elastic media: shape memory alloys, and controller designs for flexible structures.

This book documents the state-of-the-art evaluation of the embryonic field of multifunctional materials and adaptive structures, more specifically in the area of active vibration suppression, shape control, noise attenuation, structural health monitoring, smart machines and micro-electro-mechanical systems with application in aircraft, aerospace, automobile, civil structures and consumer industry.

An innovative concept, smart structural systems have proven to be extremely effective in absorbing damaging energy and/or counteracting potentially devastating force, thus limiting structural collapse and subsequent injury. As this technology rapidly evolves, there is an ever-increasing need for an authoritative reference that will allow those in t