Faryar Jabbari

Picture of Faryar Jabbari
Associate Professor, Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering
The Henry Samueli School of Engineering
PH.D., University of California, Los Angeles
Phone: (949) 824-6433
Fax: (949) 824-8585
Email: fjabbari@uci.edu
University of California, Irvine
3221 Engineering Gateway
Mail Code: 3975
Irvine, CA 92697
Research Interests
Optimal Control Theory, Distributed Parameter Systems, Parameter Identification
Academic Distinctions
Appointments
Research Abstract
I work in control theory and its applications. The following is a brief listing of active research projects that I am pursuing now (some alone, others with graduate students or other faculty). The description that I have for each area is pretty low tech! Mostly some general description and the citation to a recent paper or two (or three, or ...) As I become a little bit more literate (`home-page wise' speaking) I will put up more pictures and plots or automatic paper downloading. For now, if you want any of my papers, just email me. I will send it to you via snail-mail (or if the paper was all text and equations - which is quite likely - I will email you the ps file).

Control Theory :

In control theory, my interests lie in design of control laws for uncertain, or more generally speaking linear parmeter varying, systems. More recently, I have been working on the saturation problem and its connections to parameter varying structure.

Civil Engineering Applications:

This research is a joint project with Professors Schmitendorf and Yang (who is a member of the Civil Engineering Department). The main focus of this project (which is funded by NSF) is to use recent development in control theory to design control laws for applications to civil structures (to reduce the effects of ground motion or strong wind gusts). Most of the work so far has been analytical, though some experiments were conducted at the National Earthquake Engineering Research Center. More comprehensive experimental research is planned for later this year, when the new UCI shaker table becomes available.

Semi-Active Control:

This projects is also a joint effort, with Professor Bobrow who is responsible for the experimental component. The basic idea is to manipulate the effective damping or stiffness of the system on-line. The main thrust is to develop control laws that use very small amounts of energy, namely enough to open and close a value (this is why sometimes these techniques are called `semi-active'). The progress so far includes control laws and actuators that are decentralized, reliable and cheap. They also can be used as guidelines in design consideration (e.g., placement of sensors).

Combustion Control and Fuel Cells:

This a joint research projects, with my colleague Professor Dunn-Rankin. Our current efforts are funded through a small seed grand from CIEE. Our main objective is to study a reasonable simply flame (i.e., a two dimensional flame from a slot burner) to develop comprehensive approach for combustion control. This should include modeling for control purposes and the application of recent developments in control theory. The experimental component includes development of sensors and actuators as well as verification of the models (and their fidelity) via adaptive identification and control methods.

Most recently, I have gotten involved with UCI National Center for Fuel Cell Research, which is funded by a variety of sources including CEC, to look into dynamic modeling and control issues in Fuel Cells.



Available Technologies
Last updated
03/05/2002