Segment Method for Optimal Vibration Control of Photostrictive Smart Beams

摘要

Photostrictive materials, which have the ability to convert light directly into motion, are emerging as new actuation materials. In this paper, photostrictive elements are employed as structural actuators. Proper selection of the number and location of actuators is one of the critical issues for structural vibration control. In the present work, optimization of actuator placement for vibration control of a photostrictive-laminated beam is investigated. Modal control factor, which has taken into account the mode number, the spatial distribution, and the material properties and dimension of the actuator, is chosen as a performance index. A segmented actuator method is proposed to locate the optimum position of the actuators on the structure.