Abstract: A new vibration control design method based on FEM (finite element method) was proposed for structures to avoid the model error due to simplification and model reduction, in order to solve the difficulty of complex structures modeling and to improve the accuracy of the control design. The method could be implemented easily with the help of commercial FEM analysis softwares. A universal control simulation interface was established in structure analysis package PATRAN/NASTRAN environment with the programmable PCL (patran command language). The effectiveness of the method was demonstrated through the PCL simulation and experimental validation of the vibration control of a piezoelectric adaptive truss structure. The numerical result of the new technology agrees better with the experimental data when compared with Simulink simulation using simplified model. The new FEM method is proved to be more accurate and suitable for the control design simulation and evaluation of complex structures in design stage.