Flexural Vibration Control of the Circular Handlebars of a Bicycle by Using MFC Actuators

Abstract

The newly developed Macro Fiber Composite (MFC) actuators are more flexible and conformable than traditional monolithic isotropic piezoceramic actuators, and capable of being surface-bonded in curved structures. In this study, both analytical prediction and experimental investigation are implemented to evaluate the effectiveness of active control of flexural vibration of the handlebars of a bicycle by using MFC actuators. The handlebars are simulated as a cantilevered hollow cylindrical rod surface-bonded with three flexible MFC actuators, two placed at the clamped end and the third at the bent location subjected to flexural vibration transmitted from a head tube. A finite element model and a Euler Bernoulli beam model are utilized to obtain the analytical predictions of natural frequencies and mode shapes of the MFC/handlebars. In the experimental verification, a primary disturbance is assumed to be transmitted from the clamped end, and a secondary force from the MFC actuators. Velocity feedback and a Linear Quadratic Regular (LQR) controller are utilized to determine appropriate voltage input into the MFC actuators. Close agreement is found between the theoretical assumptions and the experiments. The results obtained suggest that using the MFC actuators to control the flexural vibration of the MFC/handlebars of the bicycle is effective.

Keywords

Macro-Fiber Composite piezoelectric actuator flexural vibration handlebars

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