Multiple modal vibration control of a beam using photostrictive actuators

The lanthanum-modified lead zirconate titanate(PLZT) actuator activated by high-energy lights can introduce actuation and control effects without hard-wired connections. A novel controlling algorithm for multi-modal vibration control of beam structures via photostrictive actuators is proposed in this paper. Two pairs of photostrictive actuators are laminated with the beams and the alternation of light irradiation is in accordance with the changing of the corresponding modal velocity direction. A binary-coded GA is used to optimize the location and size of photostrictive actuators to maximize the modal force index and guarantee the overall modal force index induced by two pairs of photostrictive actuator is positive. The control effect of multiple vibration modes of the beam under irradiation of set light intensity/variable light intensity is analyzed. Numerical results demonstrate that the method is rational and efficient, and the use of strategically positioned actuator patches can control the first two bending modes that dominate the structural vibration effectively.