Structural vibration control using spatially configured opto-electromechanical actuators

Traditional smart-material actuator systems are hard-wired, so that they are likely sensitive to electromagnetic interference in many operating conditions and environments. A photostrictive type of opto-electromechanical actuator activated by high-energy lights can introduce actuation and control effects without hard-wired connections. In this paper, the behavior of photostrictive opto-electromechanical actuators bonded to the surface of two-dimensional (2D) elastic structures for active vibration control is investigated. General opto-piezo-thermo-elastic equations for predicting opto-piezo-thermo-elastic behavior of photostrictive opto-electromechanical actuators are presented. All material constants of photostrictive actuators are calibrated based on laboratory experiments. Analytical solutions and numerical results demonstrate that the spatially configured discrete opto-electromechanical actuators at carefully selected locations can effectively suppress the dominating fundamental vibration modes of 2D structures.