mesh module servo — LIGGGHTS v3.X documentation

# mesh module servo

## Syntax

    servo servo_keywords servo_values

- zero or more servo_keyword/value pairs may be appended
- servo keywords = com (obligatory) or dim (obligatory) or ctrlPV (obligatory) or vel_max (obligatory) or kp or ki or kd com values = x, y, z

        x, y, z = coordinates of the center of mass of the body (distance units)
    ctrlPV values = force or torque
        force = use force as controll process value, i.e. control force
        torque = use torque as controll process value, i.e. control torque
    axis args = x y z
        x y z = vector direction to apply the controlled mesh motion
        x or y or z can be a variable (see below)
    target_val values = val
        val = target value for the controller (force units or torque units, depending on ctrlPV)
    vel_max values = v
        v = maximum velocity magnitude for servo wall (velocity units)
    kp values = k
        k = proportional constant for PID controller
    ki values = k
        k = integral constant for PID controller
    kd values = k
        k = differential constant for PID controller
    mode values = auto
        auto = use alternative controller algorithm
    ratio values = dr
        dr = constant for the alternative controller approach (mode = auto)

## Examples

    fix servo all mesh/surface/stress/servo file plate.stl type 1 com 0. 0. 0. ctrlPV force axis 0. 0. 1. target_val 10 vel_max 1. kp 5.
    fix servo all mesh/surface/stress/servo file stirrer.stl type 1 com 0. 0. 0. ctrlPV torque axis 0. 0. 1. target_val 10 vel_max 1. ratio 0.01 mode auto

## Description

This mesh module assumes the mesh being a servo wall that compacts a particle packing until either a total force (for ctrlPV = force) or a total torque (for ctrlPV = torque) is acting on the mesh. The target value is defined via keyword target_val. The servo can act in any dimension (as specified by the axis keyword). Only the direction of the axis is important; it’s length is ignored. A negative value for target_val leads to a wall motion towards negative axis-direction and vice versa. The user has to specify the center of mass (keyword com) and the maximum velocity allowed for the servo wall by keyword vel_max. Note that vel_max < skin /(2* timestep ) is required.

The controller itself is a proportional-integral-derivative (PID) controller which is controlled by 3 constants kp, ki, kd:

output = kp * error + ki * errorsum + kd * errorchange

where ‘error’ is the current deviation of the controll process value to the target value, ‘errorsum’ is the time integration (sum) of the error values and ‘errorchange’ its derivative. The controller also includes an “anti-wind-up scheme” which prohibits accumulation of erroneous controller output caused by the integral part due to unavoidable long-lasting deviations.

By using the keyword mode = auto an alternative controller approach is applied. It is a pure proportional controller with gain scheduling. In the absence of neighbour particles the servo wall may move with maximum velocity (defined by vel_max). Otherwise, the maximum wall velocity is defined by ratio * min(radius) / dt. Approaching target_val the maximum velocity decreases to 0.1 * ratio * min(radius) / dt.

## Restart, fix_modify, output, run start/stop, minimize info

This mesh module stores a global vector with 3 components for access by various output commands. The 3 components output the wall position. Furthermore, this mesh module writes the state of the servo wall to binary restart files so that a simulation can continue correctly. This mesh module supports fix_modify with option servo/integrate = ‘start’ or ‘stop’ to start or stop the servo wall integration inbetween two runs. This module also supports fix_modify with option servo/target_val = val to change the target value inbetween two runs. This module also supports fix_modify with option servo/ctrlParam = kp ki kd to change the controller params inbetween two runs.

## Restrictions

This mesh module requires the usage of mesh module stress and that module needs to preceede the servo module.

When using this mesh module, along with scaling or rotate the body, all the servo_keyword/value pairs have to represent the state after scaling/rotation. Mesh elements may not be deleted in case due to leaving the simulation box for a fixed boundary. In this case, an error is generated. See boundary command for details. This mesh module can not be used in conjunction with another fix that manipulates mesh geometry, such as a fix move/mesh or the `mesh module 6dof`

## Related commands

Mesh module stress, fix wall/gran, fix mesh/surface

## Default

kp = 1e-2, ki = 0, kd = 0