Optimal Control of Random Vibration in Shell Structures With Embedded Piezoelectric Components

The state covariance assignment (SCA) method of Skelton and associates is applied in the present investigation to the optimal random vibration control of large scale complicated shell structures with embedded piezoelectric components. It provides a direct approach for achieving performance goals stated in terms of the root-mean-square (RMS) values which are common in many engineering system designs. The large scale shell structures embedded with piezoelectric components of complicated geometrical configurations are approximated by the hybrid strain or mixed formulation based lower order triangular shell finite element developed in the present investigation. This shell finite element has three nodes every one of which has seven degrees of freedom (dof). The latter include three translational dof, three rotational dof, and one electric potential dof. The element is a better alternative to those based on the displacement formulation and that hinged on the truly hybrid strain formulation. Representative results applying the SCA method for a shell panel embedded with piezoelectric components are included to demonstrate its simplicity of use and efficiency of implementing the proposed approach.