Free Vibration Study on Woven Fabric Carbon Epoxy Laminate Plied with Neoprene Rubber Using Impulse Hammer Technique

Abstract

AbstractVibration damping is playing a crucial role in improved vibration control and dynamic stability in advanced engineering systems like aerospace systems, automobiles, and the shipbuilding industry. In the present investigation, free vibration study of woven fabric carbon composite plate plied with neoprene rubber using epoxy matrix is studied for analyzing the vibration damping performance. The fabric areal density of 600 g/m2 was considered in the fabrication of laminates. All the laminates were fabricated at the prescribed fiber volume fraction using hand layup technique with compression molding machine. Rubber-Carbon hybrid laminates with two different fundamental stacking sequences were fabricated using the hand layup method. In the first-type laminate (RCCR), rubber and carbon layers were plied with high modulus at the core. For the second-type laminate (RCRC), rubber and carbon layers were plied alternatively. The laminates are plied together by maintaining rubber in prestressed condition. The laminates were subjected to flexural vibration using impulse hammer excitation technique. The FRF plot has been experimentally acquired and percentage of damping is calculated using half power bandwidth method. Further, static deflection study has been performed to determine stiffness characteristics of the composite laminates. Based on this, vibration damping and the influence of stiffness on various samples layered and prepared are compared. Among tested samples, the alternatively controlled element (RCRC) has better damping characteristics compared to the other sequence carrying High modulus fiber at the core (RCCR).KeywordsStacking sequenceResonant frequencyPassive damping