Active Vibration Control of Cantilever Beam with Macro-Fibre Composite Actuator Using Time-Delayed Genetic Algorithm Controller

Abstract

As a type of intelligent active devices, macro-fibre composite (MFC) actuator serves as an ideal candidate for diverse applications in structural vibration suppression owing to its high performance, durability, and flexibility in a cost-competitive device. However, its development is usually plagued by MFC's complicated hysteretic property that creates difficulties for deducing the relationship between applied voltage and control force. Additionally, its application is also conditioned by time delay, which not only degrades the performance but also induces instability of the control system. In view of this, an active control method is proposed here for mitigating distributed parameter systems actuated by MFC patch. First, an electric-mechanical characteristic experiment of the MFC is carried out to obtain its mathematic relation between applied voltage and relative strain, which can lay a basic foundation for the control algorithm design of MFC systems. Next, based on uncoupled motion equation of a distributed system, an optimized time-delayed control law is proposed by using a genetic algorithm (GA) procedure. Finally, numerical examples and corresponding experimental cases are utilized to verify the proposed approaches capable of providing satisfactory control effect with different time delays. The present study can cast light on the development of other novel smart devices and their controlled systems.