Dynamic analysis and optimization on passive/active vibration reduction of a beam structure with distributed smart foams

A smart foam is a vibration absorption structure integrated with piezoelectric material and shows promise for a highly efficient structural vibration reduction both passively and actively. The arrangement of the smart foams on the primary structure is a key issue in practical engineering. In this work, the vibration reduction performances of distributed smart foams attached to a simply supported beam are investigated, and the distribution scheme is optimized. The dynamic equations of the vibration system are established for passive and active vibration reduction, respectively. The frequency responses are analyzed based on a Newmark-[Formula: see text] method, and the accuracy is verified by a finite element analysis. An optimization method based on the genetic algorithm is proposed for the smart foams’ quantity and locations. The study reveals that, with the same total attached mass (1% of the beam mass), a limited distribution of smart foams achieves a larger vibration reduction ratio than a single smart foam or uniformly distributed smart foams. For the passive reduction mode, the optimal scheme is to arrange four smart foams at the middle of the beam, and a reduction ratio of 38% is achieved. It is related to both the first-order modal shape of the beam and the mass distribution of smart foams. For the active reduction mode, the optimal scheme is to arrange two smart foams separately, and 98% of the vibration is reduced. The optimal location is no longer at the middle of the beam, because the active moment of the piezoelectric beam makes the main contribution, rather than the passive vibration absorption. This research provides an optimization method and instructions for both passive and active vibration reductions of smart foams.