Additive Damping Treatments for Mechanical Structures

Abstract

The prediction and optimisation of structural damping has become a matter of primary interest in the design of machines and structures. A succesful way of increasing structural damping is the utilisation of damping materials in additive layer treatments. In this paper emphasis is put on the recently developed high damping materials. Results of a comparative study of the dynamic properties, stiffness and damping, are presented. Techniques to predict the effect of free and constrained layers are discussed. For complex structures, these calculations are based on modal parameters. This is illustrated with practical case-studies.