Dynamic response control of thin-walled beams to blast pulses using structural tailoring and piezoelectric actuation

An integrated dual approach aimed at controlling the dynamic response of anisotropic cantilevered thin-walled beams to blast and sonic-boom loading is presented The approach is based upon the simultaneous implementation of structural tailoring and adaptive materials technology. Whereas structural tailoring uses the anisotropy properties of advanced composite materials, the adaptive materials technology exploits the converse effect of piezoactuators bonded or embedded into the host structure. A combined dynamic control law relating the piezoelectrically bending moment induced at the beam tip with the various kinematic response quantities is implemented and its effects upon the closed-loop dynamic response characteristics are investigated. The obtained results reveal the powerful role played by abovementioned integrated control methodology towards enhancing the dynamic response of thin-walled beam cantilevers to transient loading.