Dynamics of a Thin Plate With Partly Specified Motion Available to Purchase

The problem considered here is that of determining the precise forcing function that produces specified motion of a deformable structure. While fundamental in nature, the problem is practically important for evaluating actuation requirements for active structures. Our approach to this problem is to apply an existing solution method for finite-dimensional mechanical systems. We evaluate the direct application of this method to the spatially discretized, small strain equations of a thin plate. Several example cases are considered in which the program forces are determined, and then applied in finite element analysis software for verification of the program constraint.