Abstract
The Macro Fiber Composite (MFC) is the leading low-profile actuator or sensor offering high performance, durability and flexibility in a cost competitive device. As an ideal candidate of active-control devices, its application, however, is restricted by the complicated electromechanical characteristics, and also restricted by the unavoidable time delay lying in the MFC's actuated systems. Given this, this paper attempts to design a GA-based controller for mitigating clamped-free beam actuated by the MFC patches, in which these two factors are both considered. Finally numerical examples and corresponding experimental cases are used to testify the proposed approach is effective in mitigating vibration with different time delays. Also recommended are the implications of the current study on vibration control for other smart structures.