Numerical simulation of mechanical behavior of a Macro Fiber Composite piezoelectric actuator shunted by a negative capacitor

Numerical simulations of the elastic properties of Macro Fiber Composite (MFC) actuator shunted by an electric circuit with a negative capacitance are presented. If connected in parallel to the piezoelectric plate, the circuit with a negative capacitance has a significant influence on the elastic parameters of the piezoelectric actuator. Such an effect can be profitably used for a vibration and noise suppression, where the piezoelectric element works as an actuator and a sensor at the same time. The major advantages of the piezoelectric fiber composite actuators are their high performance, flexibility, and durability, when compared to the traditional piezoceramic (PZT) actuators. The recently developed MFC actuator provides these advantages and can be used in structural vibration applications. In this study, it is shown that the MFC can be controlled by the circuit with a negative capacitance. Finite Element Method (FEM) approach is used to obtaining frequency spectra of capacitance of MFC actuator and to show the ability to change the effective elastic parameters, when connected to the negative capacitance circuit.