The Application of Piezoceramics for Reducing Noise and Vibrations in Vehicle Structures

The application of Piezoceramic materials (PZTs) for reducing noise and vibrations in vehicle structures is examined, using a test stand that can accommodate a test plate made of the same material as those used in vehicle structures. The ‘smart damping’ technique used in this study involves attaching PZTs that are shunted with passive electrical circuits, consisting of resistors, capacitors, and inductors. The shunted PZTs are simple, do not require any external power, and can be easily and cost-effectively applied to vehicle structures in production. The test results indicate that the shunted PZTs can dissipate vibration energy, much the same way as adding viscoelastic damping materials to the structure, without adding any significant weight to the structure. The results further indicate that the shunt circuits can be tuned to specific vibration frequencies, in the lower frequency range where viscoelastic materials are commonly ineffective. It can be concluded from the study that shunted PZTs provide a practical means for augmenting the vibration reduction effects of viscoelastic damping materials in lower frequencies for many vehicle applications.