Fast prototyping method for the active vibration damping system of mechanical structures

Abstract A fast prototyping method for the active vibration control system of 3D mechanical structures is presented in the paper. To control such system piezo-stack actuators were used. The subsequent steps of the prototyping procedure are explained for the bar structure as an example. The Finite Element Modeling (FEM) approach was used to find the quasi-optimal location of piezo-stacks in the structure. Next, the structure with inbuilt piezo-actuators was designed and tested in the laboratory. The more accurate mathematical model of the structure dynamics was obtained as a result of the identification procedure. The mathematical model was reduced and decoupled to change the Two Input Two Output (TITO) system into two Single Input Single Output (SISO) systems. Such approach allowed us to design simple control laws with the aid of the computer simulation procedure. In the last chapter the tests on the laboratory stand of the active vibration control system with local Proportional-Derivative (PD) controllers are described. Experimental results have proved that these PD controllers work good increasing the damping level. Additional damping causes an excellent vibration reduction of the whole mechanical structure.