Analytical Stability Bound for a Class of Delayed Fractional-Order Dynamic Systems

Delayed Linear Time-Invariant (LTI) fractional-order dynamic systems areconsidered. The analytical stability bound is obtained by using Lambertfunction. Two examples are presented to illustrate the obtainedanalytical results.     

Dynamics and Control of Initialized Fractional-Order Systems

Due to the importance of historical effects in fractional-order systems,this paper presents a general fractional-order system and control theorythat includes the time-varying initialization response. Previous studieshave not properly accounted for these historical effects. Theinitialization response, along with the forced response, forfractional-order systems is determined. The scalar fractional-orderimpulse response is determined, and is a generalization of theexponential function. Stability properties of fractional-order systemsare presented in the complex w-plane, which is a transformation of thes-plane. Time responses are discussed with respect to pole positions inthe complex w-plane and frequency response behavior is included. Afractional-order vector space representation, which is a generalizationof the state space concept, is presented including the initializationresponse. Control methods for vector representations of initializedfractional-order systems are shown. Finally, the fractional-orderdifferintegral is generalized to continuous order-distributions whichhave the possibility of including all fractional orders in a transferfunction.     

Formulation and Solution of Dynamic Problems of Elastic Rod Systems Subjected to Boundary Conditions Described by Multivalued Relations

The dynamic behavior of rod systems under the action of external force factors described by multivalued (subdifferential) relations is studied. The mathematical formulation of the problem is given in the form of a dynamic quasivariational inequality. With the use of the Newmark difference scheme, successive approximations, and finite-element discretization, the problem is reduced to minimization of a convex nonsmooth finite-dimensional functional with respect to velocities at each time step. Introduction of auxiliary variables by the method of a modified Lagrangian reduces the problem of minimization of this functional to a sequence of smooth problems of nonlinear programming. The algorithm is verified using the numerical solution for a problem with one degree of freedom. The algorithm proposed is used to calculate the rods of deep-well pumps.     

Analogue Realizations of Fractional-Order Controllers

An approach to the design of analogue circuits, implementingfractional-order controllers, is presented. The suggestedapproach is based on the use of continued fraction expansions;in the case of negative coefficients in a continued fractionexpansion, the use of negative impedance converters is proposed.Several possible methods for obtaining suitable rational appromixationsand continued fraction expansions are discussed. An exampleof realization of a fractional-order I controlleris presented and illustrated by obtained measurements.The suggested approach can be used for the control of veryfast processes, where the use of digital controllers isdifficult or impossible.     

Identification of Fractional Systems Using an Output-Error Technique

An original method for modeling, simulation and identification of fractional systems in the time domain is presented in this article. The basic idea is to model the fractional system by a state-space representation, where conventional integration is replaced by a fractional one with the help of a non-integer integrator. This operator is itself approximated by a N-dimensional system composed of an integrator and of a phase-lead filter. An output-error technique is used in order to estimate the parameters of the model, including the fractional order N. Simulations exhibit the properties of the identification algorithm. Finally, this methodology is applied to the modeling of the dynamics of a real heat transfer system.     

A Frequency-Domain Approach to Optimal Fractional-Order Damping

In this paper, we will consider the single term optimal fractional-order damper for an otherwise undamped oscillator. First, we will find the single term damper that minimizes the time domain integral of the squared step error (2-norm) and the integral of the time-weighted squared error (Hilbert–Schmidt–Hankel norm). Next we will consider a more intuitive frequency domain approach that insures the maximally flat magnitude response. Time and frequency domain plots are given for comparison with the integer-order solutions. Further improvements in performance are shown to be possible using multiple active fractional-order dampers.     

Variable Order and Distributed Order Fractional Operators

Many physical processes appear to exhibit fractional order behavior thatmay vary with time or space. The continuum of order in the fractionalcalculus allows the order of the fractional operator to be considered asa variable. This paper develops the concept of variable and distributedorder fractional operators. Definitions based on the Riemann–Liouvilledefinition are introduced and the behavior of the new operators isstudied. Several time domain definitions that assign different argumentsto the order q in the Riemann–Liouville definition are introduced. Foreach of these definitions various characteristics are determined. Theseinclude: time invariance of the operator, operator initialization,physical realization, linearity, operational transforms, and memorycharacteristics of the defining kernels.A measure (m ₂) for memory retentiveness of the order history isintroduced. A generalized linear argument for the order q allows theconcept of `tailored' variable order fractional operators whose m ₂ memory may be chosen for a particular application. Memory retentiveness (m ₂) andorder dynamic behavior are investigated and applications are shown.The concept of distributed order operators where the order of thetime based operator depends on an additional independent (spatial)variable is also forwarded. Several definitions and their Laplacetransforms are developed, analysis methods with these operators aredemonstrated, and examples shown. Finally operators of multivariable anddistributed order are defined and their various applications areoutlined.     

Describing Function Analysis of Systems with Impacts and Backlash

This paper analyzes the dynamical properties of systems with backlashand impact phenomena based on the describing function method. It isshown that this type of nonlinearity can be analyzed in the perspectiveof the fractional calculus theory. The fractional-order dynamics isillustrated using the Nyquist plot and the results are compared withthose of standard models.