Surface damping effect of anchored constrained viscoelastic layers on the flexural response of simply supported structures

Viscoelastic (VE) materials are commonly used to control vibration-induced fatigue in airframes and to suppress general vibration in various structures. This study investigates the effects of anchored constrained VE layers on the flexural response of simply supported Euler beams or plate strips under base excitations. Emphasis is placed on the development of two surface damping treatments: one VE layer anchored at one end, and two VE layers anchored at their different ends. Each anchorage is realized with a thin stiff layer in tension, such as a fiber reinforced polymer sheet, bonded to the surface of a VE layer and anchored to one end of the beam for maximum shear deformation in the constrained VE layer. Non-uniform shear deformation in VE layers is taken into account in the new solution formulation. Sensitivity analyses are performed to understand and quantify the effects of various parameters on flexural responses of the structures. The minimum thickness of VE layers is mainly bounded by the relative stiffness between the VE layers and the constraining face layer. The performances of various configurations are compared and the two-end anchored configuration is found most effective in vibration suppression.

► Anchored constrained VE layers experience more shear strain than unanchored.
► Anchorage increases VE damping effects due to the increased shear strain.
► A two-layer strategy is significantly more effective than a one-layer strategy.
► Thinner VE layers to an optimal value suppress excessive vibration more effectively.
► Minimum VE thickness is determined by relative stiffness with surrounding layers.