The Application of Smart Structures to the Vibration Suppression Problem

The development of smart structures has seen many applications both in areas of acoustics and vibrations. We will explore a problem in vibration suppression where the application of smart structures is not only logical but necessary. This system is the control of a flexible ribbed antenna structure. In order to better incorporate smart structures into the vibration suppression problem, a methodology for utilizing a single piezoceramic segment as both a sensor and an actuator simultaneously has been de veloped. The technique for accomplishing this will be presented, and experimental results for the structure will be shown.