Towards "intelligent" structures?

By way of conclusion, we must put into perspective this genuine conceptual revolution, which consists in no longer concentrating anti-vibration and anti-shock devices in a few precise points, but in giving all objects the ability to minimize the effects of vibrations and shocks.

These structures, sometimes called adaptive, sometimes intelligent smart structures ), are achieved by disseminating both sensors and actuators, and their mutual control logic, within structural elements. Of course, composite materials offer particular flexibility when it comes to integrating these elements.

The most developed and validated technique today is called piezo-active, as it corresponds to the implantation on the structures of a piezoelectric skin: by applying...