Sensitivity analysis-assisted robust parameter design of an adaptive vibration neutralizer

The high complexity of the system structure of active or adaptive structural systems involves complex interactions between the components that increase the difficulties in effective system design and reliability study. Sensitivity analysis is a powerful tool to help the system designers understand interactions between the system parameters and identify the key parameters with considerable overall influence on the system response. This paper introduces a sensitivity analysis-assisted parameter design of an adaptive vibration neutralizer. Global sensitivity analysis is performed using a variance-based method to identify the key design parameters of the neutralizer for certain system performances. Based on this result of sensitivity, design optimization of the neutralizer is conducted using an evolutionary algorithm. The result of this optimization is presented. Also the robustness of the resulting design with respect to the uncertainties in the design parameters is assessed based on the knowledge of the sensitivity.