Active　vibration　control　of　a　cylindrical　shell　partially　covered　by　a　laminated　PVDF　actuator　(LPA)　is　studied.　The　electromechanically　coupled　equations　of　the　system　are　derived　considering　the　influences　of　the　bonding　layers.　The　analytical　expressions　of　the　control　forces　induced　by　the　LPA　are　obtained　and　thereafter　a　parametric　study　is　conducted　to　evaluate　the　effects　of　the　physical　properties　of　the　actuator　on　the　control　forces.　The　active　vibration　control　of　a　clamped-free　cylindrical　shell　using　an　LPA　with　different　layer　numbers　is　simulated　and　carried　out　experimentally.　It　shows　that　the　control　forces　of　the　actuator　can　be　significantly　enhanced　by　increasing　the　PVDF　layer　number　while　keeping　the　driving　voltage　unchanged.　As　a　result,　the　modal　vibrations　of　the　shell　are　suppressed　quite　well　(the　vibration　amplitude　is　cut　by　64.08%)　under　a　relatively　low　control　voltage　(40　V)　with　a　five-layer　LPA　whose　area　is　only　0.21%　of　that　of　the　shell.　Additionally,　as　the　LPA　partially　covers　the　shell　surface　along　the　circumferential　direction,　it　can　exert　a　radial　actuating　force　on　the　structure　except　for　the　actuating　moment,　and　the　former　is　much　larger　than　the　latter　and　is　thus　preferable　for　controlling　the　structural　radial　vibration.　To　make　full　use　of　this　actuating　force,　the　actuator　should　not　be　placed　at　a　point　of　large　surface　strain　as　is　usual　but　at　one　of　large　radial　deformation.