Light-induced vibration control of parabolic cylindrical shell panels

Parabolic cylindrical shell panel is useful in the aerospace. Light-activated shape memory polymer is a novel kind of smart materials. It is capable of offering a non-contact control way at the room temperature. In this study, the parabolic cylindrical shell panel laminated with light-activated shape memory polymer actuators is analyzed. First, the dynamic equations of the parabolic cylindrical shell panel coupled with light-activated shape memory polymer actuators are established; the modal control force of light-activated shape memory polymer actuators is derived with the modal expansion method. Then, the strain variation of light-activated shape memory polymer actuators is modeled based on the chemical kinetics. Furthermore, Young’s modulus of light-activated shape memory polymer actuators is measured through the biaxial tension experiments. The strain variation of light-activated shape memory polymer actuator with initial strain is also measured. The established strain model is validated by the experimental data of strain variation. In this case study, the snap-back control effects of the first four modes, that is, the (1,3), (1,4), (2,4), and (2,5) modes are evaluated. The study shows light-activated shape memory polymer actuators are effective to control the vibration of parabolic cylindrical shell panels. Light-activated shape memory polymer actuators have potential applications for the vibration control of double-curvature shells.