Scanning actuator guidance scheme in a 1-D thermal manufacturing process

• Published in: IEEE transactions on control systems technology Vol. 11; no. 5; pp. 757 - 764
• Main Authors: Demetriou, M.A., Paskaleva, A., Vayena, O., Doumanidis, H.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York IEEE 01.09.2003; The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc. (IEEE)
• Subjects: Actuators; Control systems; Control theory; Heat distribution; Heat sources; Manufacturing processes; Material properties; Materials processing; Optimal control; Optimization; Performance analysis; Plasma properties; Plasma temperature; Scanning; Stations; Strips; Temperature control
• ISSN: 1063-6536; 1558-0865
• DOI: 10.1109/TCST.2003.816413

In this paper, a theoretical scheme for the actuator guidance in thermal materials processing is proposed and verified experimentally. The problem under consideration involves heat distribution on a metallic strip with a moving heat source. The control objective is to optimally move the heat source in order to maintain the uniform-in-space temperature field, which is directly connected to specific material properties. The optimal position and signal intensity (control signal) of the heat source at successive time periods is determined by minimization with-respect-to-location of quadratic performance indexes corresponding to preselected actuator locations. For the experimental verification of the theoretical scheme the optimal closed-loop control algorithm is implemented on a plasma-arc welding station using real-time feedback. Experimental and simulations results are presented and analyzed.