An Evaluation of Active Vibration Control Effectiveness for the Use of Accelerometers and PVDF Sensors

Abstract

This paper presents the theoretical analysis of active beam vibration control with the use of accelerometers and PVDF sensors in conjunction with piezoelectric actuators and compares the control effectiveness of the two types of error sensors. A simply-supported beam is considered as the plant. A harmonic point force acts as a disturbance input, and a piezoelectric element bonded to the beam serves as a control actuator. Both accelerometers and PVDF sensors that directly measure the beam responses were individually applied as error sensors. The cost function corresponding to the type of sensors is constructed. The cost function is then to be minimized so as to obtain the optimal input voltages to the piezoelectric actuators. The influence of the location of error sensors on the beam was studied. The vibrating energy spectrum analysis was also performed to evaluate the control effectiveness. An understanding of the control mechanism of various types of sensors is inherent in the design of active structural vibration control system. In particular, this study explores the insight design of intelligent material structures systems which contain actuators and sensors in the sense of distributed.