No abstract

The response of active–passive–constrained layer beams is examined via the use of quasi-two-dimensional finite element formulation. Passive damping in the system is provided by a viscoelastic layer, and a piezoelectric actuation layer is used to achieve active damping. The quasi-two-dimensional finite element formulation allows through-the-thickness representation of the field variables via polynomials and their interpolation along the span by Lagrange cubic elements. The formulation is compared with the conventional formulation via numerical simulations. The response magnitudes predicted using the conventional formulation are higher than those obtained using the present formulation for systems with high core thickness, while approximately identical magnitudes are predicted for systems with low core thickness. Specific to the present quasi-two-dimensional formulation, the application of a cantilevered boundary condition to the three layers yields the same response as would have been obtained by enforcing the clamped condition on just the top and bottom layers of the cantilevered end.