Active vibration control for thin curved structures using dielectric elastomer actuators

This study proposes an active vibration control technique for pipe structures using dielectric elastomer actuators (DEAs). Vibrations in pipe structures must be eliminated to improve their mechanical reliability, and active vibration control techniques can be applied for effective vibration suppression. Soft actuators, which can completely fit pipe structures with complex-shaped surfaces, are required to transfer their vibration reduction forces to the target. DEA is suitable for this kind of target structure because DEA is characterized by high stretchability, flexibility, large deformation, and fast response. By applying the DEA, the effectiveness of vibration control for the pipe structure was experimentally demonstrated. A stacked DEA was fabricated and attached to the target structure. Its shape and placement were determined based on a modal analysis of the target structure. A control system, in which the controller for the active vibration control was designed based on H ∞ control theory, was composed. The vibration control experiment was conducted using the controller with a digital control system, and the vibration reduction effect was evaluated based on the frequency response of the target pipe structure.