An impedance approach for vibration response synthesis using multiple PZT actuators

For a structure bonded with multiple piezoelectric (PZT) patches, a method of formulating the couplings between the PZT patch and the host structure, and among the PZT themselves has been proposed using the impedance method. An approach to synthesizing a designated response of a thin plate using multiple PZT patches is presented to show that the impedance technique has a great potential in solving the inverse vibration problem analytically. Moreover, a modified structural impedance model of the host structure is proposed to include the inertia effect caused by the PZT patch on the vibration response of the host structure, which proves to be important for a typical intelligent structure usually bonded with multiple PZT patches. With this proposed modified structural impedance, the force prediction for each PZT patch in producing a designated vibration response is more accurate.