Shape memory alloy-based adaptive-passive dynamic vibration absorber for vibration control in piping applications

A dynamic vibration absorber (DVA) can be used as an effective vibration control device. It is essentially a secondary mass, attached to an original system via a spring and damper. The natural frequency of the DVA is tuned such that it coincides with the frequency of unwanted vibration in the original system. This results in absorption of the inertial energy transferred from the primary structure. This work aims at developing an adaptive-passive dynamic vibration absorber with the help of shape memory alloy (SMA) springs in order to attenuate the vibration for a range of excitation frequencies. In this paper, the unique property of SMAs temperature-dependent Young’s modulus has been used to change the stiffness of the spring actively to control the vibration. Experiments were carried out with an SMA-based dynamic vibration absorber to study the effect of reduction in amplitude of vibration of a cantilever structure. A microcontroller-based control system has been developed for timely actuation of SMA and to supply optimum current to the SMA springs connected in parallel. The experimental results show that the SMA-based dynamic vibration absorber is more effective in reducing the amplitude of vibration for a wider frequency range. The developed SMA-based DVA is used to damp out the vibration in piping applications. The effectiveness of adaptive-passive DVA in controlling the vibration for a range of excitation frequencies was proved.