Reserach on Active Structures

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Exploratory research on active structures will be initiated. An active structure is defined to be one consisting of two types of load-resisting members: the static or passive members and dynamic or active members. Their integration produces a structure which is adaptive to changing environmental loads and changing usages. The importance of undertaking this research rests on the belief that active structures represent truly optimal structures. Furthermore, they have the best potential of meeting increasingly stringent safety and performance requirements. The research planned for the first year will be devoted to establishing a foundation for structural optimization involving active member characteristics and time-varying configuration. It is envisioned that active structures will be fundamentally different from traditional structures in all aspects: geometry, topology, and material utilization.