Vibration control using piezoelectric bimorphs connected to negative capacitance circuits

Abstract Abstract The active elasticity control of a piezoelectric actuators connected to the negative capacitance (NC) circuits represents an efficient tool for the suppression of vibrations in mechanical structures. In this paper, the authors study theoretically and experimentally the vibration transmission through a piezoelectric bimorph connected to the NC circuit. The clamped end of the bimorph is attached to the electrodynamic shaker. The vibration amplitude of its free end, which is loaded by a discrete mass, is measured by a photonic sensor. The authors present the theoretical calculation of the transmissibility of vibrations through the piezoelectric bimorph, which is controlled by its effective flexural rigidity. The authors demonstrate experimentally a simple way of suppressing the vibrations transmitted through the piezoelectric bimorph, which is achieved by the proper active control of its flexural rigidity using the connected NC circuit.Keywords: Piezoelectric bimorphVibration controlPiezoelectric shunt dampingNegative capacitance circuitTransmissibility of vibrations