This paper describes the implementation of semi-passive switching shunt control for electro-magneto-mechanically coupled flexible structures. This simple system consists of a permanent magnet attached to an aluminum beam and a coil placed below the magnet with a switching circuit connected to the end of the coil. The MATLAB Simulink program and dSPACE hardware were employed for realizing the switching mechanism. Switching is done between open-circuit and short-circuits states. When the structure moves away from equilibrium, the circuit is short circuited, thereby dissipating energy, subsequently the system returns back to open circuit state. This novel self-sensing electromagnetic switching damper was compared with the traditional laser-sensing method for vibration control of the structure. The results show that the proposed semi-passive switching shunt damper can be successfully applied to minimize the magnitude of vibrating flexible structures.
