The Use of Optimally Shaped Piezo-electric Film Sensors in the Active Control of Free Field Structural Radiation, Part 1: Feedforward Control

Feedforward active control of free field structural radiation using vibration control sources and piezo-electric polymer film error sensors is considered. The problem of what should be measured by the sensors is first examined, where it is shown that orthonormal decomposition of the equation governing the acoustic power output of the structure will define the optimal quantities, which are described using the in vacuo structural modes as a basis function. Computer simulations show that by using only a few of these quantities as error signals, practically the maximum levels of acoustic power attenuation can be obtained at low frequencies. Tonal and broadband experimental results are presented using the shaped piezo-electric polymer film sensors which demonstrate the effectiveness of the described approach.