Active structures

The concept of an active structure is presented in this paper. An active structure is defined as one consisting of two types of load-resisting members: the static or passive members, and the dynamic or active members. Their integration in an optimal fashion produces a structure that is adaptive to changing environmental loads and changing usages. That the active structure concept is sound is first demonstrated through examples. The mathematics of the basic problem, which can be viewed as an application of the general theory of optimal control of parametric systems, are then carefully investigated, and a solution methodology is outlined.