Integration of active vibration control methods with finite element models of smart laminated composite structures

Vibration control problems can be directly and systematically solved in a single analysis stage using commercial finite element programs. Integration of control methods into the finite element solutions (ICFES) can be achieved in ANSYS. In this work, first, the direct velocity feedback (DVF) control is tested on a 3-DOF mechanical system under a step input. The simulation results obtained by the ICFES are compared with the analytical results obtained by the Laplace transform method. Then, active control of free and forced vibrations in a smart laminated composite structure (SLCS) with two different lay-ups is studied numerically and experimentally. The SLCS consists of a symmetric laminated glass–epoxy composite beam with [0/90]_s and [45/−45]_s lay-ups and a piezoelectric actuator. For the vibration suppression, the DVF control tested on a mechanical system is applied to the SLCS. In addition, displacement feedback (DF) control is studied. Experiments are conducted to verify the natural frequencies and the closed loop time responses. Analytical results for the mechanical system and experimental results for the SLCS match well to the corresponding results obtained using the ICFES technique.