Active vibration control of smart plates with partially debonded multilayered PZT actuators

The influence of actuator damage on the performance of closed loop vibration control is numerically evaluated. Debonding is considered a damage mode and finite element procedures are subsequently developed to introduce its effect on system matrices, namely elastic and electro-elastic stiffness. A simple modelling scheme for multiple debonding is proposed, which can also idealize multiple delamination in the host laminate. Debonding in actuators in general has reduced their load carrying appreciably as well as vibration control characteristics. Therefore, incorporating such a damage mode in the control design as an uncertainty parameter would help to realize a damage-tolerant active vibration control system. It is interesting to note that debonding in actuators has influenced both active damping and active stiffening effects.