An algorithm for the optimal design of passive vibration controllers for flexible systems

A gradient algorithm is developed for the optimal design of discrete passive dampers in the vibration control of a class of flexible (distributed parameter) systems. A complete mathematical development is presented for slender beams in flexural vibration. The algorithm systematically seeks to make the modal damping and natural frequencies of the system reach a set of preassigned values. Single damper and the two damper control examples indicate that the proposed algorithm converges faster than the Davison method used in reference [1] for those cases.