Vibration Modelling and Control Experiments for a Thin-Walled Cylindrical Rotor with Piezo Patch Actuation and Sensing

Abstract

This paper describes a dynamic model formulation and control experiments concerning the vibration behaviour of a thin-walled cylindrical rotor with internal piezoelectric patch transducers. Model development, validation and controller design procedures were undertaken for an experimental rotordynamic system comprising a tubular steel rotor (length 0.8 m, diameter 0.166 m and wall-thickness 3.06 mm) supported by two radial active magnetic bearings. Analytical solutions for mode shapes and natural frequencies for free vibration were first derived using a shell theory model, and these used to construct a speed-dependent parametric model for the rotor structure, including piezo patch actuators and sensors. The results confirm that the developed shell theory model can accurately capture the rotating frame dynamics and accounts correctly for frequency splitting from Coriolis effects. The model is also shown to be suitable for active controller design and optimization. Model-based H₂ feedback control using the rotor-mounted actuators and sensors is shown to achieve vibration suppression of targeted flexural modes, both with and without rotation.