stabilisation

Stabilisation is the process of making something more stable by reducing fluctuations, maintaining a desired state, or returning to it after disturbance. It is used across science, engineering, economics, medicine, and technology, and can involve physical, chemical, biological, or policy-based methods. British spelling uses stabilisation; American sources often use stabilization.

In civil engineering and geotechnics, soil stabilisation modifies properties to increase strength, durability, and resistance to erosion, typically by mixing binders (cement, lime, fly ash) and compacting the material. In chemistry and materials science, stabilisation aims to prevent degradation or unwanted phase changes, using stabilizers such as antioxidants in polymers, UV absorbers in plastics, or inhibitors in reactive systems. In medicine and healthcare, stabilisation covers stabilising vital signs, immobilising fractures, and stabilising patients during transport and treatment.

In economics and public policy, stabilisation refers to actions intended to dampen economic fluctuations, including monetary and fiscal measures, inflation targeting, and exchange-rate interventions. In technology and consumer products, stabilization technologies include optical or electronic image stabilization for cameras and video, and inertial or gyroscopic stabilisers in machinery and vehicles. In aerospace and navigation, flight or attitude stabilisation uses feedback control systems to maintain orientation and trajectory.

Mechanisms commonly involve feedback control, damping, and buffering against disturbances. Stabilisation can be passive, relying on inherent material or structural properties, or active, using sensors and actuators to counter deviations. The goal is to enhance safety, reliability, or predictability, though stabilisation may entail trade-offs with responsiveness, cost, or flexibility.