Piezoelectric damping : a comparison between passive ans semi passive switching techniques

Laboratoire de Génie Electrique et Ferroélectricité, INSA Lyon, bat Gustave Ferrié, H, rue de la Physique, 6962 l Villeurbanne Cedex, France

Abstract

In this paper, the performances of a new piezoelectric damping method for vibration control are compared to the passive tuned shunt method where the mechanical energy converted with the piezomaterial in electrical energy is simply dissipated in a resistor. This low consumption semi-passive damping technique, called SSDI for Synchronized Switch Damping on Inductor allows enhanced damping performances over a large frequency range. Compared with purely passive control, this method offers several advantages. It is self-adaptive because no tuning parameter is necessary, as in the case of the usual passive shunt network. In other word, the SSDI is a natural broadband method and is not sensitive to environmental changes. For low structural frequencies, the SSDI does not required a very large tuning inductor. A multi-modal damping is easily possible with the SSDI technique without complex circuits. Experimental results are given for a cantilever steel beam and for a clamped steel plate. A broadband and stable control is obtained with SSDI, hence outperforming the passive technique.