Modal Vibration Control for PVDF Coated Plates

Since advanced technical systems, such as aircrafts, space structures and automobiles, have to combine high performance with low weight, passive vibration absorbers reach their limits. This is why active control has become more important in structural dynamics with successful applications. Vibration control requires sensors, actuators and a controller. In this paper Polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) is used as actuator and sensor material. The PVDF elements are segmented in arrays on the plate. The sensors act as point sensors and the sensor signals are filtered by a modal sensor matrix. The modal displacements and modal velocities are used as input data for the controller and for a so-called Actuator Management System (AMS) as well. A modal actuator matrix transforms the controller output into driving actuator voltages. The AMS switches elements of the modal actuator matrix which results in quasi modal actuator groups. A rectangular aluminum plate has been equipped with PVDF actuators and sensors and experimental tests have been carried out in order to validate the proposed concept.