Optimal placement of actuators for active noise-vibration control with spillover effect suppression using a memetic algorithm

For active noise-vibration control applications, it is required that actuators excite the vibrating plate appropriately to reach the best possible Performance. Concentrating on a control of lower modes may result in overly exciting higher modes, what is referred to as the spillover effect. This effect deteriorates the Performance and needs to be limited. Therefore, actuators locations on the vibrating structure should be appropriately chosen. In this paper a controllability-oriented approach is addressed. A fully clamped plate is considered in the optimization process. A criterion is defined to provide a balance between effective control of lower modes and limited excitation of residual modes. A memetic algorithm is used to solve the optimization problem. Results obtained with this approach are compared with those obtained by an evolutionary algorithm. The final configuration is also validated experimentally.