Vibration control of plates using self-sensing active constrained layer damping

Active Constrained Layer Damping (ACLD) treatment has been used successfully for controlling the vibration of various flexible structures. The treatment provides an effective means for augmenting the simplicity and reliability of passive damping with the low weight and high efficiency of active controls to attain high damping characteristics over broad frequency bands. In this study, a self-sensing configuration of the ACLD treatment is utilized to simultaneously suppress the bending and torsional vibrations of plates. The treatment considered ensures collocation of the sensors/actuators pairs in order to guarantee stable operation. A three-layer network of the Self-sensing Active Constrained Layer Damping (SACLD) treatment is used to control multi-modes of vibration of a flexible aluminum plate (0.264m x 0.127m x 4.826E-4m) which is mounted in a cantilevered arrangement. Two ACLD patches (0.264m x 0.0635m) with self-sensing polyvinylidine fluoride (PVDF) actuators oriented by (14 degrees/-14 degrees) configuration are treated on one side of plate. The theoretical characteristics of the multi-layer treatment are presented in this paper and compared with the experimental performance.