Nonlinear Control of Hybrid Electrostrictive/Piezoelectric Polymeric Structures: Theory and Experiment

Electromechanical response of electrostrictive materials behaves quadratically, while that of piezoelectric material behaves linearly. This study is to evaluate quadratic control response of electrostrictive actuators with reference to linear signal generation of piezoelectric sensors. A hybrid beam structure coupled with an electrostrictive RTV 270 actuator layer and a polyvinylidene-fluoride sensor layer is fabricated and its control response evaluated. Mathematical model is established first, followed by finite-difference discretization resulting in a set of finite difference equations used in numerical simulation of controlled and uncontrolled responses. The physical model connected to a bang-bang controller, a high-voltage amplifier, a data acquisition system is setup in laboratory. Due to the quadratic behavior of the electrostrictive actuator, the bang-bang controller activates the electrostrictive actuator only in the upward motion of the beam, according to the signals generated from the piezoelectric sensor. Vibration control characteristic (i.e., damping ratio estimation) of the beam subjected to various control conditions are evaluated. Experimental data are compared favorably with simulation results.