Model order reduction techniques in large space structure applications

The reduction of the large order models of complex systems into a sufficiently low dimensional order in such a way that important dynamic characteristics of the real system are preserved, is a nontrivial task. The motivations for such a model order reduction are either to reduce computations for analysis and practical control design or to simplify the control system structure. In the present article, major techniques in model order reduction are briefly discussed. The characteristic similarities and differences are highlighted, their advantages and disadvantages are underlined, and further research requirements and trends are commented upon. Introduction and Perspective One of the central issues in the active control of complex systems such as large flexible space structures (LFSS) is the derivation of a "correct" mathematical model for both the controlled and the uncontrolled dynamical systems. Theoretically, there are infinitely many elastic modes or degrees of freedom (DOF) in the distributed parameter (DP) models of LFSS, usually with very low natural damping. Moreover, the flexible modes contribute to the actual deformation of the structure.' The truly infinite dimensional character of LFSS models has to be approximated by some "high fidelity" finite (but usually very large) dimensional model. The normal approach taken by engineers to achieve this end is via modal models with a large number of modes that provide a reasonable representation of the spacecraft dynamic characteristics. However, a difficult problem still remains to be the development of a model of lowenough dimensional order that it can be utilized by the onboard controller, yet high enough dimensional order that it preserves the dynamic characteristics of the real system represented and controlled. The motivations for such a reduction are either to reduce computations for analysis and practical control design or to simplify the control system structure. Discretization procedures will not be discussed herein and it will be assumed that a large finite dimensional model has been generated somehow and for implementation and other practical considerations, the model needs to be further reduced. *This work was-supported, in part, by the Air Force Wright Aeronautical, Air Force Systems Command, Flight Dynamics Lab, Structures and Dynamics Division, while the author was employed with HR-Textron, Valencia, California. There are various approaches to model order reduction; some are optimal or pseudo-optimal and others are ad-hoc methods based on practical considerations and engineering experience and judgment. These techniques are known by different names such as "reduction," "condensation," "economization," "aggregation," "optimal projection," and other combinations thereof. It has often been pointed out that such techniques generally constitute application of Rayleigh-Ritz/Galerkin optimization, and matrix transformation methods to the eigenvalue/eigenvector formulation for structural dynamic problems. The reduction or the condensation methods are based on transformations of the coordinates in the equations of motion that essentially maintain the invariance of the quadratic forms of the potential and kinetic energies. An important feature of these methods is that the reduced order model often loses the basic characteristics of the original system. Considerable progress was made by Likins, Ohkami, and wong5 in this respect. However, they failed to develop a general enough criterion that could reduce the system model in an optimal sense without significantly affecting the eigenvalues of the original model. The optimization or the mathematical reduction procedure, on the other hand, is based on the reduction of the eigenvalue problem to a smaller size based on some optimality criterion (usually quadratic). In these techniques, the reductions are carried out without actually resorting to approximations, i .e. , without truncatiag any coordinates or states of the original system. "Balanced" model reduction of linear timeinvariant dynamical systems is essentially based on the controllability and observability relations of the states of the system. Subsystem models are obtained by deleting those states that contribute the least to the controllability and observability (or the impulse response) of the original system7 and thus are optimal only in this sense. A more recent approach to model reduction is proposed in Skelton's work,* where each state of the system model is assigned a "cost" relative to a given basis, via a quadratic criterion, and the states with the least cost are deleted in a systematic manner. The resulting reduced model is a function of the state-space basis, and thus there is no guarantee for optimality for all choices. The latest development in model order reduction techniques is the work by Hyland and erns stein.^ Herein first order necessary conditions for reduced order modeling of linear time-invariant systems are derived via a pair of modified Lyapunov equations coupled by a nonorthogonal projection. This approach reveals the possibility of multiple extrema forsome of the abovementioned methods. "Copyright @ 1988 by the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics. Inc. All Rights Reserved."