Spatial balanced model reduction for flexible structures

This paper considers the problem of balanced model reduction for a class of distributed parameter systems. The system is assumed to have a finite-dime nsional state vector as well as a finite-dimensional input vector. However, the output is contained in a finite-dimensional subspace of an infinite-di mensional space. This often occurs in the modelling of physical systems suc h as flexible structures. acoustic ducts, etc. It is shown that a reduced m odel based on balanced truncation guarantees an upper bound on the H-infini ty norm of the error system. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights rese rved.