A self-sensing active constrained layer damping treatment for a Euler - Bernoulli beam

Abstract

In a self-sensing active constrained layer (SACL) damping treatment, the piezoelectric constraining layer is used simultaneously as both a sensor and an actuator. A variational formulation of ACL damping treatments has shown that an ACL damping treatment using a self-sensing and actuating piezoelectric element as the constraining layer in combination with rate of strain feedback as the control law will ensure that the power dissipated by the active damping always remains positive. This eliminates a major mechanism for system instability. Implementing this self-sensing actuator (SSA) as the constraining layer is made possible through the use of a bridge circuit that subtracts the strain signal from the actuator control voltage in the piezoelectric constraining layer and also differentiates the strain voltage in order to obtain the desired control law.