Vibration control of variable speed/acceleration rotating beams using smart materials

The electrorheological (ER) sandwich structure is proposed for vibration control of the rotating flexible beams with variable speed/acceleration in this study. A sandwich beam specimen, which is treated with ER fluid sandwiched between two aluminum surface layers, is constructed. An experiment has been undertaken to investigate the vibration response performances of the rotating beam with respect to the intensity of the electric field, the rotating speed and acceleration. The experimental results demonstrate that the vibration of the beam caused by the rotating motion at different rotating speed and acceleration can be quickly suppressed by applying the electric field to the ER beam, and evaluate the feasibility of ER fluid in attenuating the vibration of rotating beams.