Brillouin Optical Time Domain Analysis Sensor for Active Vibration Control of a Cantilever Beam

Abstract

The paper reports the use of a distributed optical fiber sensor based on stimulated Brillouin scattering, for structural vibration control. A cantilevered flexible aluminum beam was used as test-bed for vibration control. The proposed approach allows acquiring simultaneously the dynamic strain at several locations. The dynamic strain measured at one (or more) fiber location can be used to implement any vibration control algorithm. Experimental results are reported in which a voice coil, positioned near the fixed end of the cantilever beam, was employed as actuator for the reduction of the vibrations related to the first bending mode of the beam.