Node Control of Uniform Beams Subject to Various Boundary Conditions

This paper introduces node control, whereby discrete direct feedback control forces are placed at the nodes of the N+1th mode (the lowest N modes participate in the response). Node control is motivated by the node control theorem which states, under certain conditions, that node control preserves the natural frequencies and natural modes of vibration of the controlled system while achieving uniform damping. The node control theorem is verified for uniform beams with pinned-pinned, cantilevered, and free-free boundary conditions, and two cases of beams with springs on the boundaries. A general proof of the node control theorem remains elusive.