Improved models for smart structures with viscoelastic elements

Smart structural control systems composed of viscoelastic and piezoceramic elements have become of interest for vibration suppression. Most research in the areas of active constrained layer damping and hybrid damping systems has used the standard complex modulus approach for modeling the damping. Recently researchers in this area have turned their attention to using internal variable methods which provide an improvement over the complex modulus approach and an excellent transient response model. The downside of these models is that they greatly inflate the order of the global model of the structure. Here we examine methods of reducing the model and retaining a high fidelity damping representation of the viscoelastic effects. A theoretical development is presented for some sample active constrained layer damping systems consisting of a beam like structure with layered piezoceramic and constrained layer viscoelastic material.