Piezo-ElectroMechanical (PEM) structures: passive vibration control using distributed piezoelectric transducers

A piezo-electromechanical structural member is composed of a host member, a uniformly distributed array of piezoelectric transducers and a passive electric circuit (acting as a controller) interconnecting their electric terminals. Such a circuit has to be designed to assure the most efficient transduction of mechanical into electrical energy. The needed circuits are synthesized for bars, beams and plates and the performances of the corresponding PEM structures are determined. Once suitable dissipative elements are included in the controller, it is proven that, in PEM structures, mechanical vibrations are the most efficiently damped. (C) 2003 Academie des sciences/Editions scientifiques et medicales Elsevier SAS. All rights reserved.