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When performing structural control, are there some structural materials that are better suited for control than others?

April 26, 2017CONTROL Materials Performing structural suited

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When performing structural control, are there some structural materials that are better suited for control than others?

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There is a lot of theory behind the importance of mechanical impedance matching. The ideal, is to have a base material with the exact same bending properties as the piece of piezo that is attached. In reality, this is usually not possible; however even mismatched base materials can be effectively controlled. Some materials to avoid are very soft materials like rubber or most woods; in such cases, the QuickPack actuator will serve more to locally stiffen the structure than to control vibration. It is also important to keep in mind that you must bond the actuator to the base material, so make sure it is something that epoxy will adhere to. Midé has successfully bonded QuickPack actuator to steel, aluminum, carbon-fiber composites, and many plastics.