Influence of Nonlinear Viscoelastic Material Characterization on Performance of Constrained Layer Damping Treatment

Abstract

The influence of nonlinear viscoelastic material behavior on the performance of a passive constrained layer damping treatment is examined. For numerical simulations, a finite element model of a beam, simply supported at both ends, and with symmetric constrained layer damping treatments on the top and bottom surfaces, is considered. Results indicate that, if the viscoelastic material is relatively compliant, the damping provided by the treatment will decrease for increasing excitation levels, due primarily to the reduction in the viscoelastic material shear loss modulus. However, if the viscoelastic material is is relatively stiff, the damping provided by the treatment will increase for increasing excitation levels, due primarily to increased shear in the viscoelastic layer associated with the decrease in its shear storage modulus. The benefits obtained by segmentation of the constrained layer damping treatment were seen to reduce substantially when the nonlinear behavior of the viscoelastic material was considered.