Microscopic actuation and optimal actuator locations of paraboloidal cylindrical shells

This study aims to investigate the distributed actuation behavior induced by piezoelectric patches on a simply-supported adaptive paraboloidal cylindrical shell panel. The transverse dynamic equation of the paraboloidal cylindrical shell panel with piezoelectric actuations is presented. Then, the actuator induced modal control force is derived with a newly defined transverse mode shape function. In order to exclude the actuator size effect, microscopic actuation behavior induced by actuator neurons is obtained by shrinking the actuator patch to be infinitesimal. Control actuations are sensitive to actuator locations and natural modes. The maximal control force in the meridional direction inclines to relatively flat regions due to the curvature effect. These results provide a design guideline on placing actuator locations to maximize the control effect.