Piezoelectric Damping of Resistively Shunted Beams and Optimal Parameters for Maximum Damping

This paper studies the piezoelectric damping of resistively shunted beams induced by the conversion of the vibration energy into electrical energy that is dissipated in the resistor through Joule heating. Significant contributions have been made in the modeling and development of the resistive shunt damping technique; however, many approaches involve complex models that require the use of numerical methods to determine system parameters and predict damping. This paper develops a closed-form solution for the optimal parameter of a resistive shunt damping system. The model is validated through experimental testing and provides a simple yet accurate method to predict the induced damping in a smart structure.