Dynamics of active piezoelectric damping composites

A finite element model is developed to investigate the dynamic characteristics of beams treated with discrete patches of Active Piezoelectric Damping Composites (APDC). The APDC patches, under consideration, consist of piezoelectric rods that are obliquely embedded in a viscoelastic matrix to actively control its shear and compression damping characteristics. With such active and passive control capabilities, the energy dissipation mechanism of the viscoelastic layer can be enhanced and the dynamic behavior of the system can be improved. The effectiveness of the APDC in damping the vibration of beams is compared with the performance of the conventional Passive Constrained Layer Damping (PCLD). The effect of the inclination angle of the piezoelectric rods on the performance of the APDC is presented. The results obtained demonstrate that the APDC, with their inherent active and passive capabilities, are an effective means for controlling structural vibrations over a broad frequency band. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.