Enhanced ACLD treatment using stand-off-layer: FEM based design and experimental vibration analysis

The main disadvantage of active constrained layer damping treatment is the reduced transmissibility of active forces. This problem can be solved up to certain extent by using edge anchors. These edge anchors or stiffeners increase the transmissivity of forces only at very high feedback gains but decrease the effectiveness of passive constrained layer damping (PCLD) treatment. The efficiency of the passive constrained layer damping treatment can be improved drastically by adding the stand-off-layer (SOL) between the viscoelastic layer and the base beam. This technique has additional advantages as well. Firstly, it increases the viscoelastic strain so that more energy is dissipated via viscoelastic layer. Secondly, it enhances the effect of active forces and moments even without using edge anchors because the shear modulus of the SOL is in the range 108–109 N/m2. Hamilton’s principle in conjunction of finite element method is used to derive the equations of motion. The complex eigenvalue is developed and solved numerically by using simple proportional feedback control strategy. Results are compared with ordinary active constrained layer damping (ACLD) treatment in order to highlight the effectiveness of the proposed technique. Validity of the proposed treatment has also been verified experimentally.