Optimal resistive shunted damping configurations for multi-modal noise reduction in sandwich panels

This paper looks into the issue of noise attenuation in sandwich panels using a viscoelastic core and piezoelectric patches with an associated resistive (R) circuit. The laminated sandwich panel is modeled using an in-house finite element code from which the frequency response of the panel is calculated that is then used to calculate the radiated sound power by the Rayleigh integral method. The optimal location for the patches, as well as the values for the associated resistors, is obtained by a 7-objective optimization problem using the Direct MultiSearch algorithm, minimizing the added weight, number of equipotential zones, and the noise radiated for the first five modes. A Pareto optimal front is obtained with optimal patch distribution and resistance (R) values for each equipotential zone,.