Semi-active vibration control with piezoelectric materials as variable stiffness actuators

In this paper, a semi-active control law is used to switch the electrical shunt circuit of a piezoelectric actuator for energy dissipation in a simple mechanical system. Switching is done between open-circuit (high stiffness) and short- or resistive-circuit (low stiffness) states. The actuator is held in its high stiffness state when the system is moving such that energy can be stored in the actuator. When the system's motion would cause it to receive energy back from the actuator, the actuator is switched to a low stiffness state, dissipating the energy. In this numerical study, the state-switched piezoelectric system is used to suppress motions in flexural bending problem.