Modelling of a high performance piezoelectric actuator assembly for active and passive vibration control

This paper deals with the design and modelling of a novel actuator assembly, in which two THUNDER actuators are put in a clamshell configuration. A simulation model is proposed to describe the mechanical and electrical properties of the actuator assembly on the basis of parameters that can be measured by experiments. In order to validate the model, a system comprising a flexible cantilever beam connected to an actuator is discussed numerically and experimentally. Results show that the novel actuator configuration and the model developed in this paper work very well in the low frequency range. Meanwhile, it is observed that the dynamics of the actuator has an obvious effect on the response of the whole system near the natural frequencies of the actuator itself. Considering the fact that active isolation mainly targets the low frequency range, the established model can serve the purpose and be easily integrated into any closed-loop control simulations.