Study and optimization of traveling wave generation in finite-length beams (Q617403)

A basic method to generate a traveling wave in a finite-length elastic beam consists in using two piezoelectric actuators placed at a specific distance from the ends of the beam in order to preferentially excite two similar standing waves space shifted of a quarter wavelength and time shifted of a quarter period. The present paper is concerned with this kind of superposition method to produce a traveling wave. More precisely, the authors establish the existence of excitation conditions, that is, the location and the excitation frequency of both actuators, ensuring the generation of a traveling wave on a simply supported beam. To achieve this, they first develop an analytical model of the forced response of the beam by expressing it as a linear combination of its natural modes. This is then used to study the generation principle of the traveling wave and to establish the conditions ensuring the best quality of the traveling wave across the beam. The abstract results are illustrated by a numerical approach based on FEM modeling.