Design and development of a smart panel with five decentralised control units for the reduction of vibration and sound radiation

This Technical Report discusses the design and the construction of a smart panel with five decentralised direct velocity feedback control units in order to reduce the vibration of the panel dominated by well separated low frequency resonances. Each control unit consists of an accelerometer sensor and a piezoelectric patch strain actuator. The integrated accelerometer signal is fed back to the actuator via a fixed negative control gain. In this way the actuator generates a control excitation proportional and opposite to the measured transverse velocity of the panel so that it produces active damping on the panel. First the open loop frequency response function between the sensor and the actuator of a single channel has been studied and an analogue controller has been designed and tested in order to improve the stability of this control system. Following the stability of all five control units has been assessed using the generalised Nyquist criterion. Finally the performances of the smart panel have been tested with reference to the reduction of the vibrations at the error positions and with reference to the reduction of the radiated sound. Finally in appendix to this Report, a parametric study is presented on the properties of sensor-actuator FRFs measured with different types of piezoelectric patch actuators. The results of this parametric study have been used in order to choose the actuators to be used for the construction of the smart pane

Spectral functions of isolated Ce adatoms on paramagnetic surfaces

We report photoemission experiments revealing the full valence electron spectral function of Ce adatoms on Ag(111), W(110) and Rh(111) surfaces. A transfer of Ce 4f spectral weight from the ionization peak towards the Fermi level is demonstrated upon changing the substrate from Ag(111) to Rh(111). In the intermediate case of Ce on W(110) the ionization peak is found to be split. This evolution of the spectra is explained by means of first-principles theory which clearly demonstrates that a reliable understanding of magnetic adatoms on metal surfaces requires simultaneous low and high energy spectroscopic information.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figure

Correlated Electrons Step-by-Step: Itinerant-to-Localized Transition of Fe Impurities in Free-Electron Metal Hosts

High-resolution photoemission spectroscopy and realistic ab-initio calculations have been employed to analyze the onset and progression of d-sp hybridization in Fe impurities deposited on alkali metal films. The interplay between delocalization, mediated by the free-electron environment, and Coulomb interaction among d-electrons gives rise to complex electronic configurations. The multiplet structure of a single Fe atom evolves and gradually dissolves into a quasiparticle peak near the Fermi level with increasing the host electron density. The effective multi-orbital impurity problem within the exact diagonalization scheme describes the whole range of hybridizations.Comment: 10 pages, 4 figure

Flywheel proof mass actuator for active vibration control

This paper presents the experimental results of a new proof mass actuator for the implementation of velocity feedback control loops to reduce the flexural vibration of a thin plate structure. Classical proof mass actuators are formed by coil–magnet linear motors. These actuators can generate constant force at frequencies above the fundamental resonance frequency of the spring–magnet system, which can be used to efficiently implement point velocity feedback control loops. However, the dynamics of the spring–magnet system limit the stability and control performance of the loops when the actuators are exposed to shocks. The proof mass actuator investigated in this paper includes an additional flywheel element that improves the stability of the velocity feedback loop both by increasing the feedback gain margin and by reducing the fundamental resonance frequency of the actuator. This paper is focused on the stability and control performance of decentralized velocity feedback control loops

Scaling laws of electromagnetic and piezoelectric seismic vibration energy harvesters built from discrete components

This paper presents a theoretical study on the scaling laws of electromagnetic and piezoelectric seismic vibration energy harvesters, which are assembled from discrete components. The scaling laws are therefore derived for the so called meso-scale range, which is typical of devices built from distinct elements. Isotropic scaling is considered for both harvesters such that the shape of the components and of the whole transducers do not change with scaling. The scaling analyses are restricted to the case of linearly elastic seismic transducers subject to tonal ambient vibrations at their fundamental natural frequency, where the energy harvesting is particularly effective. Both resistive-reactive and resistive optimal electric harvesting loads are considered. The study is based on equivalent formulations for the response and power harvesting of the two transducers, which employ the so called electromagnetic and piezoelectric power transduction factors, \u3a0cm2 and \u3a0pe2. The scaling laws of the transduction coefficients and electrical and mechanical parameters for the two transducers are first provided. A comprehensive comparative scaling analysis is then presented for the harvested power, for the power harvesting efficiency and for the stroke of the two harvesters. Particular attention is dedicated to the scaling laws for the dissipative effects in the two harvesters, that is the Couette air losses and eddy currents losses that develop in the electromagnetic harvester and the material, air and dielectric losses that arise in the piezoelectric harvester. The scaling laws emerged from the study, are thoroughly examined and interpreted with respect to equivalent mechanical effects produced by the harvesting loads

Non-linear Isolator for Vibration and Force Transmission Control of Unbalanced Rotating Machines

Purpose: The objective of this paper is to investigate with simulations how non-linear spring and non-linear damper components of isolators can be employed to effectively reduce both the oscillations and the force transmitted to ground in the whole spinning range of unbalanced rotating machines. Methods: The principal goal of this paper is twofold. First, to present a concise and consistent formulation based on the harmonic balance approach for the vibration response of spinning machines mounted on linear/non-linear, softening/hardening, un-tensioned/pre-tensioned springs and linear/non-linear dampers. Second, to provide a comprehensive overview of the vibration and force transmission control with non-linear isolators specifically tailored to unbalanced machines. Results: The study has shown that, the best vibration isolation is provided by a pre-tensioned linear and cubic softening spring combined with a linear and negative quadratic damper. The pre-tensioned spring should be designed in such a way as it holds the weight of the machine and thus produces on the vibrating machine a symmetric elastic restoring force proportional to the linear and cubic powers of the displacement. The cubic softening stiffness should then be tuned to minimise the frequency, and thus the amplitude, of the resonant response of the fundamental mode of the machine and elastic suspension system, while preserving stability and a desired static deflection. In parallel, to reduce the force transmission to ground above the fundamental resonance frequency, the negative quadratic damping effect should be tailored to maximize the energy absorption at higher frequencies. Conclusion: The study has shown that non-linear spring and non-linear damper components can be effectively employed to control the vibration and force transmission in the whole spinning range of the machine. In particular, a pre-tensioned softening cubic non-linear spring can be used to mitigate the vibration and force transmission at low frequencies, close to the fundamental natural frequencies of the elastically suspended machine. Also, a negative quadratic non-linear damper can be used to tailor the energy dissipation of the isolator in such a way as to have high damping at low frequencies and low damping at higher frequencies, which enhances the vibration and force transmission control at low frequencies and, rather importantly, mitigates the force transmission at higher frequencies

In-vacuo adaptive beam element for vibration control

This paper proposes a novel in-vacuo adaptive beam element for vibration control, which, in this study, is employed as an adaptive tuneable vibration absorber. The element is formed by a composite beam with a core of structured fabrics wrapped in a deflated plastic bag skin. The fabrics consist of 3D-printed chain mails of hollowed truss-like particles. A base post is connected at the middle section of the composite beam, such that its flexural vibration is controlled by a flapping fundamental natural mode whose natural frequency can be varied by changing the vacuum level in the bag. The dynamics of this arrangement replicates that of a suspended mass-spring-damper system and, thus, can be suitably used as a tuneable vibration absorber. The study considers in-vacuo composite beams with one or two overlapping chain mails made with cubic, spherical-octahedral, octahedral hollowed truss-like particles. To start with, the dynamic response of these structures is analysed with respect to dynamic stiffness frequency response functions measured with a six-point bending setup. The dynamic response of the centrally pinned in-vacuo adaptive beam element is then investigated considering the vibration transmissibility and base impedance frequency response functions. Finally, the tuning features and vibration control effects of the adaptive beam element are assessed by fitting it at the free termination of a clamped beam in order to control the resonant response of a target flexural mode. Overall, the experimental results have shown that the fundamental natural frequency of the proposed in-vacuo adaptive beam element can be swiftly lifted or lowered by modulating the vacuum level in the bag encasing the structured fabrics. Indicatively, the working centre frequency of the resulting absorber depends on the number of strips piled in the vacuum bag, which defines the thickness, and thus the reference bending stiffness, of the in-vacuo composite beam. Also, the working frequency bandwidth of the in-vacuo adaptive beam element mostly depends on the geometry, the material and the finishing of the chain mail particles. In fact, these properties infer on the number, the type (between convex or non-convex surfaces), the area and the friction coefficient of the contacts that develop between neighbouring particles of the mails and thus determine the range of bending stiffness that can be achieved by a given vacuum range in the deflated bag

Localized Magnetic States of Fe, Co, and Ni Impurities on Alkali Metal Films

X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) and x-ray magnetic circular dichroism (XMCD) have been used to study transition metal impurities on K and Na films. The multiplet structure of the XAS spectra indicates that Fe, Co, and Ni have localized atomic ground states with predominantly d7, d8, and d9 character, respectively. XMCD shows that the localized impurity states possess large, atomiclike, magnetic orbital moments that are progressively quenched as clusters are formed. Ni impurities on Na films are found to be nonmagnetic, with a strongly increased d10 character of the impurity state. The results show that the high magnetic moments of transition metals in alkali hosts originate from electron localization