New method for multiple-mode shunt damping of structural vibration using a single piezoelectric transducer

A new multi-mode semi-active shunt technique for controlling vibration in piezoelectric laminated structures is proposed in this paper. The effect of the ``negative capacitor'' controller is studied theoretically and then validated experimentally on a piezoelectric laminated simply-supported beam. The negative capacitor controller is similar in nature to passive shunt damping techniques, as a single piezoelectric transducer is used to dampen multiple modes. While achieving comparable performance to that of the purely piezoelectric passive shunt schemes, the negative capacitor controller has a number of advantages. It is simpler to implement, less sensitive to environmental variations, and can act as a multiple mode and broadband vibration controller. Experimental resonant amplitudes for the piezoelectric laminated simply-supported beam 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th modes were successfully reduced by 6.1, 16.3, 15.2, 11.7 and 10.2dB.