This research is directed towards improving the damping of automotive structural and mechanical components. This is accomplished by exploiting the stress coupling of anisotropic composite material structural subsystems for use in laminated constructions. The subsystem is a sandwich component with elastic faces and viscoelastic core. A structural design is proposed which will increase the level of stressing and thus energy dissipation in the viscoelastic layers. Such a design would have widespread use as a tool for noise and vibration control. The success of the design will lead to a number of commercial applications both within and out of the automotive industry. A complete study to determine the potential of the damped sandwich subcomponents, to identify commercial applications, and to create appropriate design guidelines and analytical tools would require an extensive experimental and analytical program. An appropriate structural theory for the damped laminate analysis will be formulated. The solution of a specific practical problem will be found. Parametric studies will be performed and the merit of the proposed subcomponent will be established.
