In the paper, the authors describe and solve the problem of optimum control of selected vibration forms in mechanical systems. Two illustrative examples have been used to present the procedure for determination of the optimum controller coefficients.

In the first example, a simplified mechanical system is considered, while in the second one – a rotor with magnetic bearing. In both cases, the integral performance indices have been defined in order to minimize the vibration level at selected points of the structures.

The system with the magnetic bearing is structurally unstable. For this reason, the authors present the way of finding the weight coefficients of integral performance index for unstable, multi-degrees-of-freedom system. In that way, the selected modal forms attain the previously assumed dynamic properties and the performance index takes the minimum value. The results of numerical analysis show that the proposed way is efficient and makes it possible to control selected forms of vibration in the system.

In this paper, the authors consider the influence of axial load on the stability of shells of revolution subjected to external pressure. Shells of different geometry are investigated with emphasis to barrelled shells. The variable quantities are length L and meridional radius of curvature R1 of a shell. The constant parameters are: thickness of the shell h, mass ms and reference radius r0. The material of shells is steel. Numerical calculations were performed in the ABAQUS system. All the shells considered in this paper were subjected to axial compression to determine the force corresponding to the loss of stability in such conditions. A part of this force is then used to preload shell before the buckling analysis in the conditions of external pressure is started. The buckling shapes for shells of different geometry are presented with and without the influence of axial load. The ability of controlling the buckling strength and shape is discussed.

The problems of mathematical modelling of vibration signal for bearings with specific geometrical structure or defect is important insofar as there are no model bearings (to facilitate carrying out a calibration procedure for industrial measurement systems). It is even more so that there are no precise reference systems to which we would compare the results. This article presents a general outline of the most important studies on modelling of vibrations in rolling bearings. Papers constituting the basis for the most recent studies and a review of articles from the past few years have been considered here. Five different models have been analyzed in detail in order to show the directions of the latest studies. Completed analysis presents different viewpoints on the issue of modelling a rolling bearing operation. This overview article makes it possible to derive the final conclusion that in order to include all factors affecting bearing vibrations, even those ignored in the most recent models, it is necessary to carry out practical statistical research including the principles of multicriteria statistics. This approach will facilitate developing a versatile model, also applicable to predicting vibrations of a new bearing just manufactured in a factory.

Vibrating plates have been recently used for a number of active noise control applications. They are resistant to difficult environmental conditions including dust, humidity, and even precipitation. However, their properties significantly depend on temperature. The plate temperature changes, caused by ambient temperature changes or plate heating due to internal friction, result in varying response of the plate, and may make it significantly different than response of a fixed model. Such mismatch may deteriorate performance of an active noise control system or even lead to divergence of a model-based adaptation algorithm.

In this paper effects of vibrating plate temperature variation on a feedforward adaptive active noise reduction system with the multichannel Filtered-reference LMS algorithm are examined. For that purpose, a thin aluminum plate is excited with multiple Macro-Fiber Composite actuators. The plate temperature is forced by a set of Peltier cells, what allows for both cooling and heating the plate. The noise is generated at one side of the plate, and a major part of it is transmitted through the plate. The goal of the control system is to reduce sound pressure level at a specified area on the other side of the plate.

To guarantee successful operation of the control system in face of plate temperature variation, a gain-scheduling scheme is proposed to support the Filtered-reference LMS algorithm.

It is possible to enhance acoustic isolation of the device from the environment by appropriately controlling vibration of a device casing. Sound insulation efficiency of this technique for a rigid casing was confirmed by the authors in previous publications. In this paper, a light-weight casing is investigated, where vibrational couplings between walls are much greater due to lack of a rigid frame. A laboratory setup is described in details. The influence of the cross-paths on successful global noise reduction is considered. Multiple vibration actuators are installed on each of the casing walls. An adaptive control strategy based on the Least Mean Square (LMS) algorithm is used to update control filter parameters. Obtained results are reported, discussed, and conclusions for future research are drawn.

Successful implementation of an active vibration control system is strictly correlated to the exact knowledge of the dynamic behavior of the system, of the excitation level and spectra and of the sensor and actuator’s specification. Only the correct management of these aspects may guarantee the correct choice of the control strategy and the relative performance. Within this paper, some preliminary activities aimed at the creation of a structurally simple, cheap and easily replaceable active control systems for metal panels are discussed. The final future aim is to control and to reduce noise, produced by vibrations of metal panels of the body of a car. The paper is focused on two points. The first one is the realization of an electronic circuit for Synchronized Shunted Switch Architecture (SSSA) with the right dimensioning of the components to control the proposed test article, represented by a rectangular aluminum plate. The second one is a preliminary experimental study on the test article, in controlled laboratory conditions, to compare performances of two possible control approach: SSSA and a feed-forward control approach. This comparison would contribute to the future choice of the most suitable control architecture for the specific attenuation of structure-born noise related to an automotive floor structure under deterministic (engine and road-tyre interaction) and stochastic (road-tyre interaction and aerodynamic) forcing actions.

Nowadays, noise generated by devices is a serious issue in industry and in everyday life, because it may cause health damage to humans. In this research, a cubic rigid device casing built of double-panel thin steel walls is employed to reduce noise emitted from an enclosed noise source. Double-panel structure is used because of good sound insulation it provides. There exist three main groups of noise reduction methods, i.e. passive, semi-active and active. In this paper, a semi-active modification of double-panel structure is applied and examined. The bistable actuator (solenoid) mounted between incident and radiating plates changes its state due to applied constant voltage, causing the coupling of plates. Experimentally measured natural frequencies and modeshapes of the structure are compared to the simulation results. The influence of proposed modification on dynamical properties of the structure is analyzed and discussed.