Jinhao Qiu/Hongli Ji
International Journal of Aeronautical and Space Sicences, vol. 11, no. 4, pp.266-284, 2010

Abstract : Piezoelectric materials have become the most attractive functional materials for sensors and actuators in smart structures because they can directly convert mechanical energy to electrical energy and vise versa. They have excellent electromechanical coupling characteristics and excellent frequency response. In this article, the research activities and achievements on the applications of piezoelectric materials in smart structures in China, including vibration control, noise control, energy harvesting, structural health monitoring, and hysteresis control, are introduced. Special attention is given to the introduction of semi-active vibration suppression based on a synchronized switching technique and piezoelectric fibers with metal cores for health monitoring. Such mechanisms are relatively new and possess great potential for future applications in aerospace engineering.

Keyword : Piezoelectric materials, Vibration control, Energy harvesting, Structural health monitoring, Piezoelectric hysteresis