Demonstration of Uniform Cantilevered Beam Bending Vibration Using a Pair of Piezoelectric Actuators

Smart materials and structures are an emerging revolutionary technology requiring multidisciplinary training in the fields of aerospace, mechanical, and materials engineering. As such, it is important to educate undergraduate and graduate students in the fundamentals and applications of this technology. A curriculum was designed at the University of Maryland to introduce students to these materials. In addition to a general overview of smart materials and structures, a laboratory and lecture case study of a piezoelectric actuated beam was developed. Laboratory experiments were used to determine the bending modal frequencies and mode shapes of a cantilevered beam under actuation of piezoceramics. These tests were conducted in the Smart Structures Laboratory at the University of Maryland during regular lecture-length class times and using existing equipment. The results of the experiment were compared with exact and numerical solutions for the vibration frequencies of a uniform rectangular beam. The case study proved to be an excellent learning tool as shown by the lab data correlation and the positive student reviews.