Active distributed dampings of flexible structures using piezo-electric actuator/sensors (Q1309773)

The author investigates the problem of a control design capable of stabilizing all the modes of vibration of a structural flexible beam using piezoelectric actuator/sensors. A piezoelectric lamina controls the vibrations through its bending moment. Using a Lyapunov-type energy functional, the author shows how to construct the required continuous shape of electrodes that renders this functional definite positive, thus ensuring the stabilization. A concrete example is given, where the electrode shape is represented by a cubic function.