Active vibration control of smart shells using distributed piezoelectric sensors and actuators

Smart/intelligent/adaptive structures with distributed, integrated sensors, actuators and control electronics are being investigated extensively for possible use in high-performance, light-weight structural systems. Due to the unique electromechanical coupling, these piezoelectric materials could be used as sensors and actuators in smart structures. This work deals with the active vibration control of smart/intelligent shells with a distributed piezoelectric sensor and actuator layer bonded onto the top and bottom surfaces of the structures. A shear-flexible nine-noded shell finite element derived from the field consistency approach has been used for the investigation. This element has been developed so as to have one electrical degree of freedom per piezoelectric layer per element. The mass, stiffness and electromechanical coupling effects of the piezoelectric sensor and actuator layer are considered. The control performance with different types of loading is investigated. A linear quadratic regulator optimal control scheme is used to obtain the control gains.