Power output and efficiency of a negative capacitance and inductance shunt for structural vibration control under broadband excitation

Abstract

Structural vibration control using a piezoelectric shunt is an established control technique. This technique involves connecting a piezoelectric patch, which is bonded onto or embedded into the vibrating structure, to an electric shunt circuit. Thus, vibration energy is converted into electrical energy and is dissipated through a network of electrical components. Different configurations of shunt have been researched, among which the negative capacitance-inductance shunt has gained prominence recently. It is basically an analog, active circuit consisting of operational amplifiers and passive elements to introduce real and imaginary impedance on the vibrating structure. The present study attempts to model the behavior of a negative capacitance-inductance shunt in terms of power output and efficiency using circuit modeling software. The shunt model is validated experimentally and is used to control the structural vibration of an aluminum beam, connected to a pair of piezoelectric patches, under broadband excitation. The model is also used to determine the optimal parameters of a negative capacitance-inductance shunt to increase the efficiency and predict the voltage output limit of op-amp against the supply voltage.