Semi-Passive Control Strategy using Piezoceramic Patches in Non Linear Commutation Architecture for Structural-Acoustic Smart Systems

The demands for novel smart damping materials can be summarized in: external power source not required for operation; device not needing to be tuned to a specific frequency; device operation not affected by changes in modal frequency; device suppressing vibration over a number of modes, weight and size minimized; self-contained unit device. This thesis focuses on these points and it shows that the dilemma between active and passive vibration control may be solved with a new approach, implementing a semipassive technique without penalties in terms of robustness and performance. Connecting a shunt circuit to a piezoelectric transducer leads to a simple and low cost vibration controller that is able to efficiently suppress unwanted structural vibrations: this is a way to fulfil the abovementioned demands. The objective of this work is to develop and validate by an experimental campaign a computational tool integrated with finite element Nastran software. An original 4-channel switched shunt control system has been realized using a tachometer device. The control system has been tested first of all on a simple cantilevered beam attaining a max vibrations reduction of 16.2 dB for the first bending mode. Further reference test article consisted of a 10 ply fibreglass laminate plate. A multimodal control has applied within a band range of 700Hz including the first seven modes. A maximum reduction of 16 dB has been found. Further numerical and experimental tests have been planned to extend the ability of the SSC to produce structural-borne sound reduction in acoustic rigid cavities for fluid-structure interaction problems. Numerical sound power radiation of an aluminium plate, controlled by synchronized switch system, compared with the experimental acoustic energy detected in acoustic room, has been planned in the ongoing activities

Preliminary experimental/numerical study for the vibration annoyance control of a windshield wiper mechanical system through a Synchronized Switch Shunt Resonator (SSSR) technology

The present work focuses on the study and analysis of vibrations generated by the electrical motor of a wiper system on its support bracket referring to an hatchback vehicle passenger car. In the electric motor of the wiper system there can be present an imbalance transmitting vibrations to the main body via the support bracket. In this paper, after a short resume of available synchronized switch shunt damping methods, a preliminary experimental evalu- ation of their potential performance on noise control of the wiper system is reported. After preliminary experimental measurements of dynamic vibration by the use of vibrometer la- ser both on the real hatchback car then in laboratory environment, a numerical model has been created to evaluate deformations of the support bracket for comparison with the expe- rimental data. This work realizes the preliminary numerical/experimental characterization activity to set up a new application of a control system based on a semi-active technique, called Synchronized Switch Shunt Resonator (SSSR)

Skin-spar failure detection of a composite winglet using FBG sensors

Abstract Winglets are introduced into modern aircraft to reduce wing aerodynamic drag and to consequently optimize the fuel burn per mission. In order to be aerodynamically effective, these devices are installed at the wing tip section; this wing region is generally characterized by relevant oscillations induced by flights maneuvers and gust. The present work is focused on the validation of a continuous monitoring system based on fiber Bragg grating sensors and frequency domain analysis to detect physical condition of a skin-spar bonding failure in a composite winglet for in-service purposes. Optical fibers are used as deformation sensors. Short Time Fast Fourier Transform (STFT) analysis is applied to analyze the occurrence of structural response deviations on the base of strain data. Obtained results showed high accuracy in estimating static and dynamic deformations and great potentials in detecting structural failure occurrences

Circular Patch Sensor Based on Distributed Fiber Optic Technology for Tensile and Bending Loads Identification

The design, manufacturing, and preliminary testing of a smart patch sensor named MonitoRing are herein presented. The sensor is conceived to identify amplitude and direction of structural loads by distributed strain profile detection along its circular geometry. The sensor is manufactured by using flexible glass/epoxy laminates hosting a single standard telecom fiber optic. The fiber optic is embedded according to three loops, different by radius and quote. The sensor is then externally bonded on a structural element and able to follow the deformations under tensile and bending loading condition. The optical Rayleigh backscattering technology provides an interrogation of strain with high spatial resolution all along the fiber path. The load and direction identification is hence, provided by comparing amplitude, phase and sign of deformation spectrum of each loop. Preliminary numerical and experimental result, are reported and analyzed for simple test cases

A modified Shunted Switch Architecture (SSSA) for active vibration control

During the last years, the research interest in assessing noise and vibration optimization has been addressed on different control typologies, based both on active and passive architectures. Within the paper, some preliminary activities aimed at the realization of a structurally simple, cheap and easily replaceable active control systems is discussed. Under these premises, the paper deals with the assessment of an Enhanced Synchronized Shunted Switch Architecture (SSSA) control architecture, based upon the use of piezoelectric devices, specifically optimized for a cantilver beam structure. Main activities regarded the control system set up and optimization, both under the electronic than the piezo location points of view, and control results under deterministic and stochastic forcing actions. Experimental results have been compared with the numerical one as well as a comparison between the SSSA approach and other active control architectures has been also presented and discussed. Results have shown a good performances of the proposed approach that present also a relative easy implementation if compared with already assessed control technologies

Ring patch sensor based on FBG array for normal and bending load recognition

A FO based ring patch sensor has been developed for load identification applications. The transducer is made of glass/epoxy composite material. The ability of composite material to integrate optical fibres is exploited. Fibres are allocated in different layers and in single or multi loop, this allows to reconstruct the applied loads. In this work a Finite Element approach has been used to simulate a transducer working under tensile and bending loads and extrapolate different deformation fields through a fiber optic circular path. Then the numerical results have been compared with the experimental outcomes performed by using FBGs array opportunely located inside the circular path

An original device for train bogie energy harvesting: a real application scenario

Today, as railways increase their capacity and speeds, it is more important than ever to be completely aware of the state of vehicles fleet's condition to ensure the highest quality and safety standards, as well as being able to maintain the costs as low as possible. Operation of a modern, dynamic and efficient railway demands a real time, accurate and reliable evaluation of the infrastructure assets, including signal networks and diagnostic systems able to acquire functional parameters. In the conventional system, measurement data are reliably collected using coaxial wires for communication between sensors and the repository. As sensors grow in size, the cost of the monitoring system can grow. Recently, auto-powered wireless sensor has been considered as an alternative tool for economical and accurate realization of structural health monitoring system, being provided by the following essential features: on-board micro-processor, sensing capability, wireless communication, auto-powered battery, and low cost. In this work, an original harvester device is designed to supply wireless sensor system battery using train bogie energy. Piezoelectric materials have in here considered due to their established ability to directly convert applied strain energy into usable electric energy and their relatively simple modelling into an integrated system. The mechanical and electrical properties of the system are studied according to the project specifications. The numerical formulation is implemented with in-house code using commercial software tool and then experimentally validated through a proof of concept setup using an excitation signal by a real application scenario

Shape Memory Polymer Composite Actuator: Modeling Approach for Preliminary Design and Validation

The work at hand focuses on the modeling, prototyping, and experimental functionality test of a smart actuator based on shape memory polymer technology. Particular attention is paid to the specific modeling approach, here conceived as an effective predictive scheme, quick and, at the same time, able to face those nonlinearity aspects, strictly related to the large displacements shape memory polymers usually undergo. Shape memory polymer composites (SMPCs) may play a critical role for many applications, ranging from self-repairing systems to deployable structures (e.g., solar sails, antennas) and functional subcomponents (e.g., pliers, transporters of small objects). For all these applications, it is very important to have an effective tool that may drive the designers during the preliminary definition of the main parameters of the actuation system. For the present work, a SMPC plate sample has been conceived and realized in view of aerospace applications. An external fibre optic sensor has been then fixed with special adhesive. The temperatures needed for the activation of the Shape Memory Polymer (SMP) and strain storing have been provided by a thermo-gun and complete load–unload cycles, including strain storing, have been performed. Experimental displacements and strains have been used to validate a dedicated predictive theoretical approach, suited for laminates integrated with SMP layers

Graphene-Based Strain Sensor Array on Carbon Fiber Composite Laminate

Innovative graphene-based sensors are produced through the spray deposition of multilayer graphene suspension in 1-propanol. They are cost effective and suitable for large-scale integration in aeronautical-grade composite structures. The piezoresistive characteristic of the new sensor has been assessed through static, quasi-static, and dynamic tests. The obtained results show that the new sensors are suitable for detecting strains in any directions due to the isotropic piezoresistive characteristic of the graphene-based material. Moreover, the potentiality of the proposed sensors for the in situ non-destructive investigations of carbon-fiber-reinforced composite (CFRC) is assessed through the response analysis of an eight-sensor array deposited over a CFRC plate, and excited by a mechanical vibration with a spectral content up to 100 kHz