SearcharxivSearch

arXiv subjects

Fernando Castanos

Publications and source records attributed to Fernando Castanos.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

Self-oscillations in an Alpha Stirling Engine: a bifurcation analysis

We study a thermo-mechanical system comprised of an alpha Stirling engine and a flywheel from the perspective of dynamical systems theory. Thermodynamics establish a static relation between the flywheel's angle and the forces exerted by the two power pistons that constitute the engine. Mechanics, in turn, provide a dynamic relation between the forces and the angle, ultimately leading to a closed dynamical model. We are interested in the different behaviors that the engine displays as parameters are varied. The temperature of the hot piston and the mechanical phase between both pistons constitute our bifurcation parameters. Considering that energy conversion in the engine can only take place through cyclic motions, we are particularly interested in the appearance of limit cycles.

math.DS

Sliding Motions on SO(3), Sliding Subgroups

We propose a sliding surface for systems on the Lie group $SO(3)\times \mathbb{R}^3$ . The sliding surface is shown to be a Lie subgroup. The reduced-order dynamics along the sliding subgroup have an almost globally asymptotically stable equilibrium. The sliding surface is used to design a sliding-mode controller for the attitude control of rigid bodies. The closed-loop system is robust against matched disturbances and does not exhibit the undesired unwinding phenomenon.

math.DS