APPROXIMATION AND PARAMETER-IDENTIFICATION FOR DAMPED 2ND-ORDER SYSTEMS WITH UNBOUNDED INPUT OPERATORS

We consider a class of parameter estimation problems motivated by smar t structures, i.e., structures with integrated piezoelectric actuators and sensors. Problems involving damped second order partial different ial equations with unbounded input coefficients are discussed in the c ontext of a variational formulation Theoretical, computational and exp erimental aspects of a smart structural system are successfully consid ered here, illustrating the importance of the proposed procedure in pr oviding accurate models for identification and control. Approximation techniques are introduced and convergence arguments are presented rigo rously. Numerical results of parameter estimation procedures are given and experimental data are used to test our computational results.