This book is a companion text to Active Control of Sound by P.A. Nelson and S.J. Elliott, also published by Academic Press. It summarizes the principles underlying active vibration control and its practical applications by combining material from vibrations, mechanics, signal processing, acoustics and control theory. The emphasis of the book is on the active control of waves in structures, the active isolation of vibrations, the use of distribusted strain actuators and sensors and the active control of structurally radiated sound. The feedforward control of deterministic and random disturbances in these systems, in addition to the more conventional work on modal feedback control, are covered in detail.

The principles of the transducers used as actuators and sensors for such control strategies are also given an in-depth description. Two chapters are presented on the important topic of the active control of sound radiation from structures: active structural acoustic control. The reason for controlling vibration is often to prevent sound radiation, and the principles and practical application of such techniques are presented here for both plates and cylinders. The volume is written in textbook style and is aimed at students, practising engineers and researchers.