Critical active damping control of a flexible slender plate using a distributed modal actuator and sensor

Abstract

Active damping control of the structural vibration of a one-dimensional cantilever plate is analyzed and tested. The control algorithm uses rate feedback without using any element tuned to the structural vibration frequencies, so that the sensitivity of the closed-loop stability and performance to resonant frequency variations is minimized. Poly(vinylidene fluoride) layers were attached to all sides of three steel plates to act as distributed actuators and sensors. Both all-mode and single-mode actuator/sensor pairs were designed and studied, and experimental results showed that critical active damping control for the first mode was achieved. The importance of having a distributed modal actuator/sensor for the active damping control of a flexible structure is established.