Distributed structural identification and control of shells using distributed piezoelectrics: Theory and finite element analysis

Distributed dynamic identification and vibration control of high-performance flexible structures has drawn much attention in recent years. This article presents an analytical and finite-element study on a distributed piezoelectric sensor and distributed actuator coupled with flexible shells and plates. The integrated piezoelectric sensor/actuator can monitor the oscillation as well as actively control the structural vibration by the direct/converse piezoelectric effects, respectively. Based on Maxwell's equations and Love's assumptions, new theories on distributed sensing and active vibration control of a generic shell using the distributed piezoelectrics are derived. These theories can be easily simplified to account for plates, cylinders, beams, etc. A new piezoelectric finite element is also formulated using the variational principle and Hamilton's principle. A piezoelectric micropositioning device was first studied; analytical solutions are compared closely with experimental and finite-element results. Distributed vibration identification and control of a zero-curvature shell-a plate-are also investigated.