Switching Nonlinear Shunted Piezoelectric Systems for Vibration Mitigation of Wind Turbine Towers

Abstract This work investigates the effectiveness of switching nonlinear shunted piezoelectric systems for the vibration mitigation of wind turbine towers. Based on previous research, a novel semi-passive damping control strategy is proposed, enhancing classical approaches by incorporating switching elements. In this method, piezoelectric patches connected with shunted circuits and are attached to a structure, forming a system that reduces vibrations by converting motion into electrical energy, which is then dissipated through the circuit. The proposed control law enables automatic adaptation by activating a switched resonant shunt circuit when displacement and velocity share the same sign. This strategy increases energy transfer and broadens the damping bandwidth. A simplified finite element model has been developed to evaluate damping performance under representative static loading conditions, approximating extreme lateral forces. The technique is compared to traditional passive resonant circuits without switches. Results show that the switching-based approach offers improved vibration suppression with low energy requirements, simple and lightweight setup, environmental compatibility, and suitability for large-scale applications like wind turbine towers.