Abstract
This paper aims at presenting the structural vibration suppression capability of the recently developed Macro-Fiber Composite (NASA LaRC-MFC^<TM>) actuator as a passive piezoelectric absorber using an inductive resonant shunt circuit. The resistance and inductance of the series RL shunt circuit are designed by the analogy with the single-degree-of-freedom mechanical damped vibration absorber and by using the maximum power transfer theorem of the electric network. Experimental test of a simple cantilevered beam demonstrates that the MFC actuator has excellent capability of improving the dynamic response of the beam as a piezoelectric damping system. The damping enhancement performance of the MFC actuator is superior to that of the conventional monolithic PZT actuator.
