This paper introduces models for electrorheological (ER) structures based on visco-elasticity and sandwich beam theory. The partial differential equations describing the dynamics of an ER sandwich beam are derived and a modal analysis is performed. Feedback controllers, derived using Lyapunov theory, ensure stability of all modes of the beam. Feedback from an axial velocity sensor to the applied ER beam voltage provides an implementable approximation to the control law. Simulations of a cantilevered ER beam show the stable response and improved transient decay provided by the control system.

Issue Section:
Research Papers
Topics:
Approximation, Control equipment, Control modeling, Control systems, Dynamics (Mechanics), Elasticity, Engineering simulation, Euler-Bernoulli beam theory, Feedback, Modal analysis, Partial differential equations, Sensors, Simulation, Stability, Transients (Dynamics)
1.
Allen, H., 1969, Analysis and Design of Structural Sandwich Panels, Pergamon Press, New York.
2.
Block
H.
, and
Kelly
J. P.
,
1988
, “
Electro-Rheology
,”
Journal of Physics D: Applied Physics
, Vol.
21
, pp.
1661
–
1667
.
3.
Choi, S. B., Gandhi, M. V., and Thompson, B. S., 1989, “An Active Vibration Tuning Methodology for Smart Flexible Structures Incorporating Electro-Rheological Fluids: A Proof-of-Concept Investigation,” Proceedings of the American Control Conference, Pittsburgh, PA, June, pp. 694–699.
4.
Choi
Y.
,
Sprecher
F.
, and
Conrad
H.
,
1990
, “
Vibration Characteristics of a Composite Beam Containing an Electrorheological Fluid
,”
Journal of Intelligent Materials, Systems, and Structures
, Vol.
1
, January, pp.
91
–
104
.
5.
Choi
Y.
,
Sprecher
F.
, and
Conrad
H.
,
1992
, “
Response of Electrorheological Fluid-Filled Laminate Composites to Forced Vibration
,”
Journal of Intelligent Materials, Systems, and Structures
, Vol.
3
, January, pp.
17
–
29
.
6.
Coulter, J. P., Duclos, T. G., and Acker, D. N., 1989, “The Usage of Electrorheological Materials in Viscoelastic Layer Damping Applications,” Proceedings of Damping ’89, Palm Beach, Florida.
7.
Coulter
J. P.
,
Weiss
K. D.
, and
Carlson
J. D.
,
1993
, “
Engineering Applications of Electrorheological Materials
,”
Journal of Intelligent Material Systems and Structures
, Vol.
4
, April, pp.
248
–
259
.
8.
Gandhi
M. V.
,
Thompson
B. S.
, and
Choi
S. B.
,
1989
, “
A New Generation of Innovative Ultra-Advanced Intelligent Composite Materials Featuring Electro-Rheological Fluids: An Experimental Investigation
,”
Journal of Composite Materials
, Vol.
23
, December, pp.
1232
–
1255
.
9.
Ha
K. H.
,
1992
, “
Exact Analysis of Bending and Overall Buckling of Sandwich Beam Systems
,”
Computers & Structures
, Vol.
45
, No.
1
, pp.
31
–
40
.
10.
Kim
Y. S.
,
Wang
K. W.
, and
Lee
H. S.
,
1992
, “
Feedback Control of ER-Fluid-Based Structures for Vibration Suppression
,”
Smart Materials and Structures
, Vol.
1
, pp.
139
–
145
.
11.
Leipholz, H. H. E., 1980, Stability of Elastic Systems, Sijthoff & Noord-hoff, Germantown, MD.
12.
Meirovitch, L., 1967, Analytical Methods in Vibrations, The MacMillan Company, New York.
13.
Rahn, C. D., and C. D. Mote, Jr., 1992, “Parametric Control of Conservative Mechanical Systems,” Proceedings of the 113th ASME Winter Annual Meeting, Symposium on Active Control of Noise and Vibration, Anaheim, CA, November, ASME Journal of Dynamic Systems, Measurement, and Control, Vol. 118, No. 2, June, pp. 309–314.
1.
Rahn, C. D., and Mote, C. D., Jr., 1993, “Axial Force Stabilization of Transverse Beam Vibration,” Proceedings of the 14th ASME Biennial Conference on Mechanical Vibration and Noise, Albuquerque, NM, September, DE-Vol. 61, Vibration and Control of Mechanical Systems, pp. 29–34,
2.
ASME Journal of Dynamic Systems, Measurement, and Control, Vol. 118, No. 2, June, pp. 379–380.
1.
Rahn
C. D.
, and
Mote
C. D.
,
1994
, “
Parametric Control of Flexible Systems
,”
ASME JOURNAL OF VIBRATION AND ACOUSTICS
, Vol.
116
, pp.
379
–
385
.
2.
Shames, I. H., and Cozzarelli, F. A., 1992, Elastic and Inelastic Stress Analysis, Prentice-Hall, Englewood Cliffs, NJ, pp. 161–172.
3.
Wang
K. W.
,
Kim
Y. S.
, and
Shea
D. B.
,
1994
, “
Structural Vibration Control via Electroheological-Fluid-Based Actuators with Adaptive Viscous and Frictional Damping
,”
Journal of Sound and Vibration
, Vol.
177
, No.
2
, pp.
227
–
237
.
This content is only available via PDF.
Copyright © 1998
 by The American Society of Mechanical Engineers
You do not currently have access to this content.