Design of a 1-3 viscoelastic composite layer for improved free/constrained layer passive damping treatment of structural vibration

A new 1-3 viscoelastic composite material (VECM) layer is designed in order to achieve improved passive damping characteristics of the unconstrained (UCLD)/constrained (PCLD) layer damping treatment of structural vibration. The present 1-3 VECM layer is used instead of traditional monolithic viscoelastic material (VEM) layer within the UCLD/PCLD treatment. The corresponding change in damping is studied through the static as well as dynamic finite element (FE) analyses of a substrate beam integrated with the UCLD/PCLD treatment. The static analysis reveals augmentations of damping in the use of 1-3 VECM layer. The dynamic analysis quantifies improvement in the passive unconstrained/constrained layer damping through the present design.