3D Micro-Structural Modeling of Vibration Characteristics of Smart Particle-Reinforced Metal-Matrix Composite Beams

Abstract

In this study, the effects of micro-structural parameters such as particle volume fraction, size and random distribution of Al 6061/SiC particulate metal-matrix composite (MMC) beams on free vibration response and the active vibration control are investigated. For this purpose, numerical particle-reinforced MMC (PRMMC) beam specimens were modeled with 3D finite elements, and the cubic-shaped reinforcing SiC particles were randomly distributed in Al 6061 metal matrix similar to an actual micro-structure. The particle size and especially volume fraction play an important role on the natural frequencies of the smart PRMMCs although they have no effect on the mode shapes. The random particle distribution has minor effect on the natural frequencies of the smart PRMMCs. With the increase of the feedback control gain, both the vibration amplitude and the suppression time are reduced reasonably. Increasing the particle volume fraction induces an important reduction in the damping time and the vibration amplitude for both the controlled and uncontrolled damped vibrations. Finally, increasing the particle size decreases the vibration suppression capacity and increases the vibration amplitude and time slightly. Random particle distribution had no obvious effect on the uncontrolled and controlled vibrations.