Self-adaptive flexural wave absorbing system and related method

A self-adaptive flexural wave absorbing system comprising:

• a controller;
• a beam having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the beam is attached to a fixed structure and the second end of the beam is at least one of a free end and a fixed end;
• the beam having an extension extending from a main body portion of the beam, the extension having a mass value;
• a damping material located on a first side of the extension, the damping material having a damping value;
• a piezoelectric patch located on a second side of the extension, the piezoelectric patch electrically connected to the controller and having a variable spring value that varies based on a voltage applied to the piezoelectric patch;
• and
• a memory in communication with the controller, the memory having instructions that, when executed by the controller, causes the controller to:
• receive an input signal representing a frequency response of a flexural wave acting on the beam,
• determine a spring constant value for absorbing the flexural wave based on the input signal, the damping value, and the mass value, and
• apply a spring constant voltage to the piezoelectric patch based on the spring constant value, wherein the variable spring value of the piezoelectric patch is approximately equal to the spring constant value when the spring constant voltage is applied to the piezoelectric patch.

A method for self-adaptively absorbing a flexural wave acting on a beam comprising the steps of:

• receiving an input signal representing a frequency response of a flexural wave acting on the beam;
• determining a spring constant for absorbing the flexural wave based on the input signal, a damping value of a damper acting on the beam, and a mass value of a mass acting on the beam;
• and
• applying a spring constant voltage based on the spring constant to a piezoelectric device connected to the beam, the piezoelectric device having a variable spring value that varies based on a voltage applied to the piezoelectric device, wherein the variable spring value of the piezoelectric device is approximately equal to the spring constant when the spring constant voltage is applied to the piezoelectric device.