Vibration Damping Using CCII-Based Inductance Simulators

In this paper, we present an application of second- generation current-conveyor (CCII)-based active inductance simulators to mechanical vibration damping. The oscillation amplitude of a metallic beam, which is near some resonant frequencies, can be reduced by converting mechanical energy into electrical energy through a piezoelectric transducer that is bonded to the beam. An electric circuit, which is made up of the piezoelectric transducer, a resistance, and an inductance, accomplishes the task of dissipating the energy. To this end, the natural frequency of the circuit should be close to the natural frequency of interest of the mechanical system. The high value that is requested for the inductance (thousands of Henrys) can only be achieved through an inductance-simulator circuit. In the literature, the circuit implementations of the inductance simulators are typically based on operational amplifiers, such as the Antoniou circuit. In this paper, we make use of the CCIIs, which allow us to obtain both grounded and floating equivalent inductances that work within a regulated frequency range from three to four decades. The effectiveness of the traditional inductance simulators and CCII-based simulators is discussed, comparing the responses of an experimental mechanical-electrical system, with different circuit implementations, through experimental results. The use of series-resistance compensation, which is obtained through the use of a suitable topology based on the CCIIs, in the implementation of the equivalent inductance, allows one to obtain the best vibration damping, as confirmed by measurements, for all the natural mechanical frequencies of the realized system.