Assessment of shunted piezoelectric devices for simultaneous noise and vibration reduction: comparison of passive, active and hybrid networks

Structural vibration and noise control of a cavity-backed three-layered smart piezo-coupled rectangular panel system under harmonic or transient loads is achieved by using purely active, passive, and hybrid active/passive piezoelectric shunt networks. Problem formulation is based on the classical lamination plate theory, Maxwell’s equation for piezoelectric materials, linear circuit theory, and wave equation for the enclosed acoustic domain. The orthogonal mode expansions along with the modal coupling theory are employed to obtain the coupled differential equations of the electro-mechanical-acoustic system, which are then put into the convenient state-space form, and subsequently solved numerically in both frequency and time domains. A triple-mode hybrid RLC shunt circuit, in series with an external active voltage source and connected to a single electroded piezoelectric segment, is tuned to the dominant resonance frequencies of the composite structure. The linear quadratic optimal control (LQR) theory is adopted for obtaining the active control gains. The frequency and time domain performances of the passive, active and hybrid multi-modal piezoelectric systems are calculated and discussed in terms of sensor output voltage, local sound pressure, and control effort. It is found that the hybrid control methodology with properly tuned circuit parameters can be an excellent candidate for simultaneous vibration and structure-borne noise control of the cavity-coupled smart panel with decreased control effort. Also, the active control strategy integrated in the hybrid control system is demonstrated to enhance the overall system damping characteristics and improve the control authority at frequencies where the passive shunt network performs weakly. Limiting cases are considered and correctness of the mathematical model is verified by using a commercial finite element software as well as by comparisons with the literature.