Finite-element simulation of closed loop vibration control of a smart plate under transient loading

A plate structure with integrated piezoelectric patches is modeled using the finite-element method which is based on a combination of three-dimensional piezoelectric, flat shell and transition elements. Constant velocity and constant displacement feedback control algorithms are used to actively control the dynamic response of the integrated smart structure through closed loop control. A modal superposition technique coupled with a direct integration method (a-method) is used in the numerical simulation to calculate the dynamic response of the system. In this work, the performance of the active controller for vibration suppression is demonstrated for a clamped plate with piezoelectric patches glued in pairs on both sides of the plate. By using strategically located sensor/actuator pairs, several modes of a clamped square plate are successfully controlled. The control effectiveness of the actuators is maximized by locating them at points of maximum strain in the frequency and time domains. We conclude that discrete sensor/actuator devices are to be preferred over distributed piezoelectric films to realize lower weight and effective control authority for modest values of actuator voltages for active vibration control of practical structures.