A Numerical Approach for Modeling the Shunt Damping of Thin Panels with Arrays of Separately Piezoelectric Patches

Abstract: Two-dimensional thin plates are widely used in many aerospace and automotive applications. Among many methods for the attenuation of vibration of these mechanical structures, piezoelectric shunt damping is a promising way. It enables a compact vibration damping method without adding significant mass and volumetric occupancy. Analyzing the dynamics of these electromechanical systems requires precise modeling tools that properly consider the coupling between the piezoelectric elements and the host structure. This paper presents a methodology for separately shunted piezoelectric patches for achieving higher performance on vibration attenuation. The Rayleigh-Ritz method is used for performing the modal analysis and obtaining the frequency response functions of the electro-mechanical system. The effectiveness of the method is investigated for a broader range of frequencies, and it was shown that separately shunted piezoelectric patches are more effective.