Active Vibration Damping Using an Inertial, Electrodynamic Actuator (DETC2005-84632)

Abstract

Active vibration damping using a shunted inertial actuator is advantageous if external sensors cannot be collocated with the actuators, or these sensors would add too much weight or cost. When electrodynamic actuators are used, damping can be directly added to the structure where they are attached without the need of electronic integrators or differentiators. Inertial actuators have also the advantage that they do not need to react relative to a fixed base. In this paper, control with a shunted resistor, current feedback, and induced voltage feedback, with and without inductance compensation, are all investigated in simulations and experiments. Experiments with a lightweight, inertial actuator on a clamped plate show that vibration amplitude is decreased between 6 and 13dB and control bandwidth is doubled when the internal actuator inductance is compensated.