AN ADAPTIVE BEAM MODEL WITH ELECTRORHEOLOGICAL MATERIAL BASED APPLICATIONS

In this investigation a theoretical model for adaptive beam structures with various boundary conditions was developed, and its potential app licability to electrorheological (ER) material based adaptive beams wa s introduced. The cross-sectional configuration of the beam selected w as based on sandwiching a damping material between elastic face plates . The transverse continuous vibration model developed is based on thin plate theory. In the model shear and rotary inertia effects are negle cted, and it is assumed that no slipping between the elastic layers an d the damping layer occurs. All layers are considered to have the same transverse displacement. The resulting analytical model is able to pr edict the structural vibration response at any location on the beam su rface, and is applicable to generalized sets of boundary conditions. I n this study, different boundary and external excitation conditions we re considered. The transverse vibration response was studied for diffe rent boundary conditions. Variations in the mode shapes, natural frequ encies, and loss factors, as functions of mode number and excitation f requency, were analyzed. ER material based adaptive beam semi-active v ibration control capabilities were analyzed from the observed model re sults.