A dual loop strategy for the design of a control surface actuation system with nonlinear limitations

A novel frequency-based optimization algorithm, suitable to tune generic controllers involved in the dual loop architectures, is presented. A control scheme, based on standard industrial regulators, is adopted to incorporate nonlinear constraints reproducing technological limitations, in a control surfaces actuation system installed on a wind tunnel aeroelastic demonstrator. An integrated observer for disturbance rejection helps to meet one of the required constraints when aerodynamic loads are present. Numerical and experimental results are presented with the aim to design the actuation system and validate the methodology, considering both standard input signals and realistic command profiles. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.