Fine-Tuning of the Oscillation Frequency in Slender Mechanical Beam-Systems Through the Use of Smart Materials Features

In the study of physics and engineering, natural vibrations are a fundamental characteristic of all systems covering microscopic particles up to large-scale structures. In this work, the significance of active structures technology application and its features for altering the vibration frequency far from the excitation band in slender geometrically non-linear beam-systems is emphasized. The subject of interest covers a hosts beam members with surface-bonded active/passive piezoelectric layers. By precisely adjusting the voltage across these layers based on their poling direction and electric field vector, it is possible to create non-zero stress along the beam, adjusting its eigenfrequency. The provided study is based on the mathematical formulation and derived motion equations using Hamilton's principle, taking into account the linear stress–strain relationship with electro–mechanical coupling. The influence of physical parameters and piezoelectric actuation on the fine-tuning of vibration frequency are investigated. The obtained numerical results clearly indicate that the vibration frequency not only changes non-linearly with the piezo-layers location and their structural parameters, but also the piezoelectric actuation can be efficiently used to additionally alter the systems' dynamic response.