Complex modes in damped sandwich beams using beam and elasticity theories

Abstract

We investigated complex damped modes in beams in the presence of a viscoelastic layer sandwiched between two elastic layers. The problem was solved using two approaches, (1) Rayleigh beam theory and analyzed using the Ritz method, and (2) by using 2D plane stress elasticity based finite-element method. The damping in the layers was modeled using the complex modulus. Simply-supported, cantilever, and viscously supported boundary conditions were considered in this study. Simple trigonometric functions were used as admissible functions in the Ritz method. The key idea behind sandwich structure is to increase damping in a beam as affected by the presence of a highly-damped core layer vibrating mainly in shear. Different assumptions are utilized in the literature, to model shear deformation in the core layer. In this manuscript, we used FEM without any kinematic assumptions for the transverse shear in both the core and elastic layers. Moreover, numerical examples were studied, where the base and constraining layers were also damped. The loss factor was calculated by modal strain energy method, and by solving a complex eigenvalue problem. The efficiency of the modal strain energy method was tested for different loss factors in the core layer. Complex mode shapes of the beam were also examined in the study, and a comparison was made between viscoelastically and viscously damped structures. The numerical results were compared with those available in the literature, and the results were found to be satisfactory.